How to Cite a Poem: MLA, APA, Chicago & Turabian Style

Between line numbers, italics, and different citation styles, it’s easy to feel lost. But here’s the good news: it’s way simpler than it looks.

That’s the guide that spells it all out in plain language, that gives you the simplest steps to get your poetry citations right – whether it’s MLA, APA, Chicago or Turabian. With this guide, you can cite poetry without losing your mind in any paper!

Key Elements for Citing a Poem

In learning how to cite a poem, there are several essential elements that are necessary for any formal citation, regardless of what system you are using for citation. Accuracy and completeness depend on nailing these details.

How to Cite and Quote Poetry?

Citing is simply giving proper credit by showing exactly where you found the line in the poem. Quoting is using the exact words from the poem inside your writing.

The most common citation styles are MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian. Choices are determined by your assignment instructions, your professor’s guidelines, or the audience you are writing for.

Now, how about poems? Quotes are a bit tricky because it depends on the length of the quote and the style you are using. Here is a simple table.

Short Quotes (1-3 Lines)

Long Quotes (More Than 3 Lines / 40+ Words)

How to Cite a Poem in MLA

MLA (Modern Language Association) is the style most often used in literature, language studies, and the humanities. When you cite a poem in MLA style, use slashes to separate the lines, provide the last name of the poet in either the signal phrase or in parentheses, and list line numbers (separated by a dash if they are consecutive) or page numbers for poems that span multiple pages.

MLA In-Text Citations for Poetry

When citing a poem in MLA format, the parenthetical citation changes depending on whether the poem has line numbers, page numbers, or neither. Below are three common scenarios with examples for short quotes (1-3 lines) and long quotes (4+ lines).

1. Citing a Poem with Numbered Lines

If the poem uses line numbers, cite them rather than page numbers.

✅ Short Quote Example (1-3 lines):

Shakespeare writes, "Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate" (1-2).

✅ Long Quote Example (4+ lines):

The speaker reflects on beauty:

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date (Shakespeare 1-4).

2. Citing a Poem Published on Multiple Pages

If the poem spans multiple pages (e.g., in a book or anthology), cite the page number(s).

✅ Short Quote Example (1-3 lines):

Eliot describes a bleak scene: "The winter evening settles down / With smell of steaks in passageways" (23).

✅ Long Quote Example (4+ lines):

The poem opens with urban imagery:

The winter evening settles down
With smell of steaks in passageways.
Six o’clock.
The burnt-out ends of smoky days (Eliot 23).

3. Citing a Poem with No Line or Page Numbers

If the poem has no line or page numbers (e.g., some web sources), cite only the poet’s name.

✅ Short Quote Example (1-3 lines):

Angelou declares, "You may shoot me with your words, / You may cut me with your eyes" (Angelou).

✅ Long Quote Example (4+ lines):

The speaker expresses resilience:

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise (Angelou).

Consecutive Citations of the Same Poem in MLA

For the second in-text citation and subsequent citations, you can go with the poet’s last name and the line numbers (if they have stayed the same). You should not have to mention the poem title and the year again. Mention the new lines at the quotation.

If you have several poems by the same author, or you are not sure of the context of the poem, include the title. If you have multiple poems by the same author, use the author’s last name for all subsequent entries, then the poem’s title for needed. Always include the line numbers in the parenthetical citation. Even though you are likely quoting from two separate sources, you must perform the method of your citations.

Example:

• First citation: Frost explores the traveler’s decision: "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, / And sorry I could not travel both" (lines 18-19).

• Subsequent citation: He further reflects, "I shall be telling this with a sigh" (line 20).

MLA Works Cited entry for Poetry

When citing a poem in MLA style, the Works Cited entry employs a specific set of procedures to help with clarity and consistency. Start with the poet’s name followed by the title of the poem in quotation marks. Then provide the publication information for the source (book, website, anthology) in which the poem appears. The most common examples are presented below, along with their specific formats.

1. Poem from a Book (Single Author)

If the poem is part of a collection written by the same poet, cite it like a book but include the poem title.

2. Poem from an Anthology

If the poem appears in a collection of works by multiple poets, include the editor’s name and the page range.

3. Poem from a Website

For poems found online, include the website name, publication year (if available), and a direct URL.

How to Cite a Poem in APA

APA format (short for the American Psychological Association style) is used in the social sciences and other academic disciplines. It provides guidelines for how to write and format academic papers, including how to cite sources. If you’re wondering how to cite a poem in APA, you’ll need to know how to work citations into your text and how to list your poem in your works-cited section.

APA In-Text Citations for Poetry

In APA style, when citing a poem in the text of your document, you need the poet’s last name and the publication year. If the poem includes line numbers, use the lines in the citation. If not, omit line numbers.

Here’s what it looks like:

APA References Citations for Poetry

The citation of a poem in the APA writing style is a little different from MLA. Because you need to include a lot of information in your references list. The format also changes depending on where you extract the poem from (e.g. a book, an anthology, a website, etc.).

1. Poem from a Book

If the poem is part of a book that the poet wrote, you would enter the poet as the author and the book as the container. Use this format:

2. Poem from an Anthology

When the poem appears in a collection edited by someone else (an anthology), include the editor’s name and the page numbers where the poem appears. Use this format:

3. Poem from a Website

If you found the poem online, make sure the website is credible. Include the name of the poet, the year (if available), the title of the poem, the name of the site, and the full URL. If there’s no date, use “n.d.” instead of the year.

How to Cite a Poem in Chicago

It’s also the preferred style for history, literature, and the arts. There are two styles: Notes and Bibliography (mostly used in the humanities) and Author-Date (more commonly used in sciences).

Chicago Footnotes Citations for Poetry

In the Notes and Bibliography method, you add footnotes to reference sources in your writing.

If you’re wondering how to cite a poem in Chicago style, you don’t simply parenthetically note at the end – you use either a footnote or endnote. This details all the information on a source the first time it’s cited as well as a shortened description thereafter.

Here’s what the footnote might look like:

If your poem has line numbers, you can include those in your citation to be more specific. Now let’s go over how to quote poems based on their length.

Short Quotes Example:

Gorman reflects on unity when she writes, “We are striving to forge a union with purpose, / To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man”.¹

Long Quotes Example:

O Rose, thou art sick!
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm.¹

Each quote should link to a footnote that shows where the poem came from. Here's what the footnote might look like:

Footnote Example:

¹ Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb,” in The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country (Viking, 2021), 4–7.

2. Author-Date System (Sciences)

The Author-Date system is more commonly used in fields like the sciences, where citations are kept simple to showcase the author’s name and date of the publication. This system involves brief in-text parenthetical citations and a reference list at the end of the paper.

In-Text Citation:

In the Author-Date style, you’ll put the poet’s last name and year of publication in parentheses. If you’re citing a specific line or page, you’ll also add the line or page number.

✅ Format: (Author's Last Name Year of Publication, page number)

✅ Example of Short Quote (Less than 100 words): 

Frost conveys the essence of life’s choices in The Road Not Taken: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— / I took the one less traveled by” (Frost 1979, 127).

Reference List: Frost, Robert. 1979. "The Road Not Taken." In The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem, 125-128. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

✅ Example of Long Quote (More than 100 words):

Frost reflects on choices in life in The Road Not Taken:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same... (Frost 1979, 127)

Reference List: Frost, Robert. 1979. "The Road Not Taken." In The Poetry of Robert Frost, edited by Edward Connery Lathem, 125-128. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Chicago Works Cited Entry for Poetry

The bibliography (Chicago’s version of a reference list) includes full details about your source. Like APA, the format depends on where you found the poem. Here are examples for a book, an anthology, and a website.

1. Poem from a Book

2. Poem from an Anthology

3. Poem from a Website

How to Cite a Poem in Turabian Style

Turabian style is a widely accepted citation style that many college students and researchers use in the humanities and social sciences. It is based on the Chicago Manual of Style but is much simpler and easier to use in academic writing. Here is how to properly format both the in-text citations and the works cited lists in your document:

Turabian In-Text Citations for Poetry

When quoting poetry, you’ll want to give the author’s last name, the title of the poem (in quotation marks), and the line numbers provided in the original source, when available. Line numbers are typically used when citing poetry instead of page numbers as they help readers find the specific section of the text.

If line numbers are unavailable (for shorter poems), you can cite the page number instead.

Turabian Works Cited Entry for Poetry

A works cited entry for a poem varies depending on whether the poem is found in a printed book or on an online platform. Below are the specific formats for citing poetry in both cases.

1. Poem from a Book

When a poem is included in a single-author collection, you can use the following format for your works cited entry.

2. Poem from an Anthology

If the poem is part of an anthology edited by someone other than the poet, the format changes slightly to account for the editor’s contribution.

3. Poem from a Website

When citing a poem found online, it’s essential to include the website’s name, the date of modification (if available), the full URL, and the date you accessed the poem.

FAQ

1. How Do You Properly Cite a Poem?

To quote a poem properly, adhere to the style guide of choice (like MLA, APA, Chicago, or Turabian). You’ll have the author’s name, poem title (in quotation marks), line numbers (if relevant), and publication info. The style guide you follow will provide guidance on format.

2. How Do I Reference a Poem in APA?

For APA styles, the corresponding parenthetical citation for a poem includes the poet’s last name, year, and line numbers (e.g., Frost, 1916, lines 18-19). In the reference list, you list the poet, year, poem title, and anthology/book information.

3. Why Citing Poems Correctly Matters?

Proper citations avoid plagiarism, give credit to the poet, and help readers find the original work. Incorrect citations can lead to lost marks or academic penalties.

4. What Are the Tips for Citing Poems?

• Follow your required style (MLA, APA, Chicago or Turabian).

• Format short/long quotes correctly.

• Use line numbers (if available).

• Double-check online citation tools for accuracy.

• Ask your professor if unsure.

5. How Do I Cite a Nested Quote from a Poem?

To cite a nested quote from a poem, use the appropriate quotation marks for your English style.

• In American English (AmE): Use double quotation marks for the outer quote and single for the inner quote.
  Example: "The poet writes, 'Hope is the thing with feathers,'" (Dickinson, 2009, p. 45).

• In British English (BrE): Use single quotation marks for the outer quote and double for the inner quote.
  Example: ‘The poet writes, “Hope is the thing with feathers,”’ (Dickinson, 2009, p. 45).

Conclusion

That’s how you correctly cite a poem in MLA, APA, Chicago, and Turabian style. You learned the four variations of citations for poems, from In-Text Citations to the Reference Citations, making you an expert in how to quote and cite.

So anytime you’re trying to cite a quote from a book, an anthology, or a website soon, you’ll be able to get it right and avoid plagiarism. Save this page and you won’t have to worry about poetry citations again!