So All The Time I Was Sitting on an Egg by Lola Shoneyin Summary
So All the Time I Was Sitting on an Egg is a collection of poems written by Lola Shoneyin. It was her first published poetry book, released in 1998. The book does not follow a single story like a novel. Instead, it brings together many poems that explore diverse experiences and emotions, particularly from the perspective of women living in contemporary African society.
The poems in the collection focus on self-discovery, love, womanhood, and freedom. Through her words, Shoneyin expresses what it feels like to grow up, to love, to face disappointment, and to find one’s own strength. The title itself, So All the Time I Was Sitting on an Egg, is symbolic—it suggests that a person might carry great potential or hidden power within themselves without realizing it. The “egg” represents new life, creativity, or self-awareness that is waiting to be discovered.
Throughout the book, the poet uses simple, honest, and sometimes humorous language to express deep feelings. Some poems describe the joys and pains of love, while others show the struggles of women who are expected to remain silent or submissive. Shoneyin questions traditional gender roles and speaks openly about the desire for independence and equality.
Many of her poems also celebrate the beauty and strength of African women, showing how they survive and thrive despite the challenges they face in society. There are moments of sadness, but also of laughter, hope, and confidence. Her voice is bold yet sensitive, mixing serious topics with humor and imagination.
By the end of the collection, readers get a clear picture of a woman who has grown stronger through experience. The poems encourage people—especially women—to look inside themselves, discover their hidden talents, and live freely without fear or shame.
Main Ideas and Message
The central message of So All the Time I Was Sitting on an Egg is that everyone has hidden strength and potential within them. Lola Shoneyin shows that self-awareness, education, and courage can help people break free from limitations. Her poetry celebrates individuality, creativity, and womanhood while questioning old beliefs that limit women’s freedom.
Read also:
Main Poems in So All the Time I Was Sitting on an Egg
Lola Shoneyin’s So All the Time I Was Sitting on an Egg is made up of many poems that reflect her thoughts and feelings about love, womanhood, freedom, identity, and society. Below are some of the most important and well-known poems from the collection, along with what they are about:
1. So All the Time I Was Sitting on an Egg (It’s the title of the poem)
This is the main and title poem of the collection. In it, the poet realizes that she has been carrying great potential inside her all along, just like a hen sitting on an egg without knowing it could hatch into life.
The “egg” represents creativity, power, and self-discovery. Shoneyin uses this symbol to show that people—especially women—often underestimate themselves. The poem encourages readers to look within and recognize their inner strength and talent.
2. I Am Married to a Bed
In this poem, Shoneyin speaks about loneliness in marriage. The speaker feels trapped in a relationship that brings her no joy or love. The bed, which should be a symbol of comfort and closeness, becomes a symbol of emptiness and silence.
Through this, the poet highlights how some women in society are stuck in unhappy marriages simply because tradition expects them to stay.
3. Song of a Riverbird
This poem is about freedom and expression. The “riverbird” symbolizes a woman’s voice and spirit. It wants to sing freely and soar, but the world tries to silence it.
Shoneyin uses the bird as a symbol of the African woman who struggles to find her voice in a male-dominated world. The poem celebrates courage and the desire to be free from restrictions.
4. Do Not Become Your Mother
This is one of the most striking poems in the book. It speaks to young women, warning them not to repeat the mistakes of the past generation.
The mother figure represents women who suffered in silence and accepted oppression. Shoneyin encourages the new generation to speak up, dream big, and live freely, rather than accept the same limitations.
5. How Deep Is My Love?
This poem explores romantic love and its emotional power. The speaker questions whether love should always mean sacrifice and pain.
It shows how love can be both beautiful and destructive, especially when it’s one-sided or misunderstood. Shoneyin uses gentle and emotional language to describe the conflict between heart and reason.
6. Woman in Stone
Here, the poet paints a picture of a woman who has become hard and cold like stone because of years of pain and disappointment. She has been silenced and shaped by society’s harsh expectations.
The poem is both sad and powerful, showing how society can turn living women into lifeless statues by denying them freedom and emotion.
7. When Lovers Leave
This poem talks about loss and heartbreak. The speaker expresses the pain of being abandoned by someone she loves deeply.
However, Shoneyin also shows emotional strength—the woman learns to move on and find peace again. The message is that pain does not last forever, and healing is possible through self-acceptance.