How to cite poetry?

By HotBotUpdated: August 8, 2024

Understanding the Basics of Citing Poetry

Citing poetry can be a nuanced and complex task. The manner in which you cite a poem depends on several factors, including the format you’re using (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.), the length of the poem, and the source from which the poem is taken. This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of how to cite poetry in various contexts.

MLA Format

Short Poems (Less than 4 Lines)

When citing short poems in an essay or research paper using MLA format, you should include the author’s last name and the specific lines of the poem in parentheses after the quote. For example:

"Do not go gentle into that good night, / Rage, rage against the dying of the light" (Thomas lines 1-2).

Long Poems (More than 4 Lines)

For longer poems, use block quotations. This means that the quote should be indented one inch from the left margin and should not be enclosed in quotation marks. The citation follows after the punctuation of the last line. For instance:

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. (Frost lines 1-4)

Poems from an Anthology

When citing a poem from an anthology, you need to include the poet's name, the title of the poem in quotation marks, the title of the anthology in italics, the editor's name, the publisher, the year of publication, and the page number. Here’s an example:

Frost, Robert. "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." The Norton Anthology of Poetry, edited by Margaret Ferguson, Mary Jo Salter, and Jon Stallworthy, W.W. Norton & Company, 2005, pp. 1234-1235.

APA Format

Short Poems

In APA format, short poems can be cited similarly to short quotes from any source. Use quotation marks and include the poet’s last name, year of publication, and line numbers. For example:

"The road not taken" (Frost, 1916, line 1).

Long Poems

Block quotations are used for longer excerpts from poems in APA format. Indent the text half an inch from the left margin and do not use quotation marks. The in-text citation should include the poet's last name, the year of publication, and the line numbers:

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. (Frost, 1916, lines 1-4)

Poems from an Anthology

When referring to a poem from an anthology in APA format, include the poet's name, the year of publication, the title of the poem, the editor of the anthology, the title of the anthology, and the page number. Here’s an example:

Frost, R. (1916). Stopping by woods on a snowy evening. In M. Ferguson, M. J. Salter, & J. Stallworthy (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of Poetry (pp. 1234-1235). W.W. Norton & Company.

Chicago/Turabian Format

Short Poems

In Chicago/Turabian format, short poems are cited with quotation marks and include a footnote or endnote with the poet's name, the title of the poem, the title of the collection (if applicable), and the page number. For example:

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep" (Frost 1916, 1).

Long Poems

For longer poems, use block quotations without quotation marks and place a footnote or endnote at the end of the quote. Here’s how you might format it:

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village, though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.¹

Poems from an Anthology

When citing a poem from an anthology in Chicago/Turabian format, give the poet's name, the title of the poem, the title of the anthology, the editor's name, the publication details, and the page number:

1. Robert Frost, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," in The Norton Anthology of Poetry, ed. Margaret Ferguson, Mary Jo Salter, and Jon Stallworthy (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2005), 1234-1235.

Online Poems

MLA Format

For poems found online, include the poet’s name, the title of the poem in quotation marks, the website title in italics, the publisher, the date of publication, and the URL:

Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 18." Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, 2023, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45018/sonnet-18-shall-i-compare-thee-to-a-summers-day.

APA Format

In APA format, citing an online poem requires the poet’s name, the year of publication, the title of the poem, the website title, and the URL:

Shakespeare, W. (2023). Sonnet 18. Poetry Foundation. Retrieved from www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45018/sonnet-18-shall-i-compare-thee-to-a-summers-day

Chicago/Turabian Format

For Chicago/Turabian, include the poet’s name, the title of the poem, the website title, the publication date, and the URL:

William Shakespeare, "Sonnet 18," Poetry Foundation, 2023, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45018/sonnet-18-shall-i-compare-thee-to-a-summers-day.

Rarely Known Details and Tips

There are several lesser-known aspects of citing poetry that can enhance the accuracy and professionalism of your work:

• Line Breaks: Use a slash (/) to indicate line breaks in short poems and a double slash (//) for stanza breaks.
• Ellipses: Use ellipses (…) to indicate omitted lines or words, but ensure that the meaning remains clear.
• Title Variations: If a poem's title has been published differently in various sources, stick to the title used in your primary source.
• Modern Adaptations: When citing modern adaptations or translations, mention both the original poet and the translator.

The world of poetry citation is intricate, rich with tradition, and requires careful attention to detail. Whether you are working with a concise haiku or an epic poem, mastering these citation formats enables you to honor the original work while providing clear and accurate references for your readers.

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