Learn How to Cite a Poem like a Pro

Poetry holds a distinct identity in literature and academia. It evokes emotions, paints vivid imagery, and conveys profound ideas to captivate the readers. Using a poem in your research paper or essay could make it stand out. But you should properly cite it to give credit to the poet and to avoid plagiarism. 

Don’t know how to cite a poem? No need to panic, as the expert tips here can get you on the right track. Such that you’ll be able to cite a poem like a professional paper writing help provider. So, without further ado, let’s get started. 

The Basics of Poetry Citation

Citing poetry is an important skill for any scholar or writer delving into literature. Here are some basics of poetry citations that you should know about. 

Types of Citations for Poems

MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association), and Chicago are common styles for citing poetry. Each style has its own set of guidelines and rules for citing poems. Let’s get to know each of them below. 

MLA (Modern Language Association)

MLA Style is commonly used in the humanities, especially in English and literature. Citing Poems in MLA requires you to include the following: 

• The poet’s name
• The title of the poem (in quotation marks) 
• The title of the collection (in italics)
• The publication information 
• The page numbers 

For Example:

Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym et al., W.W. Norton, 2007, pp. 921-922.

APA (American Psychological Association)

APA style is often used in social sciences. There are no specific guidelines to cite poems in APA. So, you have to stick to the general rules of this style, which are as follows: 

• Start with the poet’s name
• Year of publication (usually in brackets) 
• Title of the poem (in sentence case quotation marks)
• The title of the book (in sentence case and italics)
• The editor or translator (if applicable) 
• The publication information 

For Example:

Frost, R. (2007). The road not taken. In N. Baym et al. (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature (pp. 921-922). W.W. Norton.

Chicago (Chicago Manual of Style)

Chicago style is commonly used in history, art, and other humanities disciplines. This is how you can cite your paper using Chicago Style: 

• Start with the poet’s name 
• Then, write the title of the poem in quotation marks 
• Now, the title of the collection or anthology in italics 
• Put the editor or translator next to applicable 
• Now the place of publication, the publisher, and the year of publication

For Example: 

Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” In The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym et al., 921-922. New York: W.W. Norton, 2007.

The Most Appropriate Style for Your Research Paper

Consider the requirements of the assignment first. Plus, you should know that different fields and disciplines prefer a style you should follow. For example, MLA is the most suitable citation style for an English literature course. Whereas APA is the right choice for research papers in psychology.

General Citation Rules for Poems

You must adhere to these general rules of citing poems, irrespective of your citation style. The rules are as follows:

Rule 1: Include the Poet’s Name

Start with the poet’s last name followed by the first name or initial. Like Frost, Robert.

Rule 2: Use Quotation Marks

Enclose the title of the poem in quotation marks. Use italics or underlining for longer poems. 

Rule 3: Provide the Title of the Collection or Anthology

Underline or italicize the anthology’s title or collection of poems in italics. 

Rule 4: Include the Editor or Translator (if applicable)

If the poem is from an edited or translated collection, include the edited collection’s name.

Elements of a Poem Citation – How to Quote a Poem?

For accurate and comprehensive source attribution, ensure your citation includes the following elements: 

• Author’s Name and Presentation:

The author’s name must be included in the citation. The author’s name’s presentation may vary per the citation style used. Such as:

MLA Style

Here the author’s name is presented as the last name followed by the first name or initial. 

Example:

Frost, Robert.

APA Style

Here the author’s name is presented as the last name followed by the first initial.

Example:

Frost, R.

Chicago Style

Here the author’s name is presented with the last name followed by the first name. 

Example:

Frost, Robert.

Title of the Poem and its Formatting

The title of the poem is an essential element of a citation. Therefore, it should be properly formatted according to the citation style guidelines.

MLA Style

In MLA style, the poem’s title is placed in quotation marks.

Example:

“The Road Not Taken”

APA Style

Here the title of the poem is presented in sentence case without quotation marks.

Example:

The road not taken

Chicago Style

The title of the poem here is placed in quotation marks.

Example:

“The Road Not Taken”

Source Information (book, anthology, website)

For proper citation of a poem, you must also provide information about the source of the poem. It includes: 

Book

When you use a poem from the book, include the title in italics or underlined. Follow the same process for citing an anthology. 

Example

The Norton Anthology of American Literature

Anthology

If the poem is part of an anthology, include the title of the anthology in italics or underlined.

Example:

The Norton Anthology of American Literature

Website

Include the name of a website from where the poem is sourced. 

Example:

Poetry Foundation

Publication Details (Publisher, Year, Page Numbers)

Including publication details helps readers locate the poem within its specific context. It includes: 

Publisher

Including this would assist readers in locating the poem in its particular setting. Publisher refers to the person or entity responsible for producing and distributing the book.

Example

W.W. Norton

Year

It indicates when the book, anthology, or poem was published on the website. 

Example:

2007

Page Numbers

It indicates where the poem appears within the book or anthology.

Example:

1. 921-922

In-Text Citations for Poems

Confused about how to do in-text citations for poems? Here’s how you can do that. 

Incorporating Direct Quotes and Paraphrases

Use quotation marks when incorporating direct quotes from a poem into your writing. Plus, you must provide an in-text citation to credit the poet and the source. Do the same, even when rephrasing the poet’s idea in your own words. 

Placement and Format of in-text Citations

It depends on the citation style you are using. Here are some general guidelines to follow: 

MLA Style

MLA style needs you to: 

Put the author’s last name and the lines from the poem in parenthesis after the quote or paraphrase.

Put the line numbers for poems having no page numbers. 

For Example:

Direct quote: “And miles to go before I sleep” (Frost 15).

Paraphrase: Frost emphasizes the long journey before finding rest (15).

APA style

In-text citation in this style requires you to: 

– Include the author’s last name 

– The publication year of the poem 

– Lines from the poem in parentheses after the quote or paraphrase

– Go with line numbers for poems with no page numbers. 

For Example:

Direct quote: “Two roads diverged in a wood” (Frost, 1916, p. 15).

Paraphrase: Frost (1916) illustrates the presence of choices in life (p. 15).

Chicago style

This style needs you to use footnotes or endnotes to cite the poem. In the note: 

– Include the poet’s name 

– The title of the poem in italics or quotation marks 

– Publication information 

For Example: 

Direct quote: Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1923), 15.

Paraphrase: Frost highlights the beauty of the snowy woods (Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” 15).

Citing Poems from Different Resources

These are the guidelines for citing poems from different resources. 

Citing a Poem from An Anthology

Anthology refers to a collection of various works by different authors. For citing a poem from an anthology, include the following: 

– The information about the anthology 

– The information about the poet itself 

Here’s how you can do it in different citation styles: 

MLA Style

When you have opted to use the MLA guidelines:

Include the poet’s last name and first name 

• Title of the poem 
• Title of the anthology 
• First editor’s name and last name 
• Edition 
• Publisher 
• Year 
• Page 

For Example:

Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym, 9th ed., Norton, 2017, pp. 921-922.

APA Style

To follow the APA guidelines, include: 

• The poet’s last name and first initial. (Year). 
• Title of the Poem. 
• Editor’s First Initial and Last Name (Ed.),
• Title of the Anthology (page range). Publisher.

Example:

Frost, R. (1916). The Road Not Taken. In N. Baym (Ed.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature (pp. 921-922). Norton.

Citing a Poem from A Single-Author Collection

It means a source (book usually) where all the poems are written by a single post. Here’s how you can cite it in different styles: 

MLA Style

Include the

• Poets Last name 
• Poet’s first name 
• Poem’s title in quotation marks 
• Title of the collection 
• Publisher
• Year 
• Page 
• Range

For Example:

Dickinson, Emily. “Because I could not stop for Death.” The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, Back Bay Books, 2015, pp. 112-113.

APA Style

This style needs you to include the following: 

• The poet’s last name 
• First initial with the year in parentheses 
• The title of the poem 
• Title of the collection
• Publisher 

For Example

Dickinson, E. (2015). Because I could not stop for Death. In The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (pp. 112-113). Back Bay Books.

Citing a Poem from An Online Source

To cite a poem from an online source, you need to provide the following: 

• Information about the poem 
• Name of the website 
• The URL or DOI 

MLA Style:

To cite a poem from a website in MLA format, include the following: 

• The poet’s last name 
• The poet’s first name 
• Title of the poem in parentheses 
• Title of the website 
• Publisher or sponsor of the website 
• Year
• URL or DOI 

Example:

Whitman, Walt. “O Captain! My Captain!” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, 2021, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45474/o-captain-my-captain.

APA Style:

To follow the APA guidelines, include: 

• The poet’s last name 
• First initial (year) 
• Title of the poem 
• Title of the Website 
• URL or DOI 

Example:

Whitman, W. (2021). O Captain! My Captain! In Poetry Foundation. Retrieved from www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45474/o-captain-my-captain.

Tips and Best Practices for Citing Poems

Accurate citations of poems require: 

• Attention to detail
• A good understanding of citation guidelines

Here are some tips and best practices for citing poems accurately: 

Tip1: Conducting Thorough Research on Citation Guidelines

Each citation style has its own set of rules for you to follow. Take your time to familiarize yourself with them. Clarify your doubts about citations from the handbooks or credible university websites such as Harvard. And keep checking for updates in the specific citation guidelines. 

Tip 2: Double-check the Accuracy and Completeness of Citations

Before citing, ensure that you have accurate information about the poem. Check the poem’s title, publication details, and relevant page or line numbers. Double-check the formatting and punctuation. Verify the source and cross-reference your citations. 

Tip 3: Seek Clarification from Instructors or Style Guides

In the event of doubt, consult your supervisor or instructor. Refer to style guides or manuals and use online forums for academic writing. 

Conclusion

Citing poems is a valuable skill a writer can have. It starts with choosing a citation style. Then it goes to following all the guidelines of that style. Hopefully, this blog post has helped you know the nits and grits of how to cite a poem like a pro. If you are still in doubt, try counting on the expertise of our writers.