How to Cite a Poem in an Essay

When quoting one to three lines of poetry, incorporate them directly into your paragraph. Use quotation marks to enclose the excerpt. To indicate a line break, insert a forward slash (/) with a space on both sides. If you are quoting a stanza break within these three lines, use a double forward slash (//). Always maintain the original capitalization used by the poet at the start of each line. This method keeps your prose flowing while signaling the poem's structure to the reader.

If you quote four or more lines, you must use a block quotation. Start the quote on a new line and indent the entire block 0.5 inches from the left margin. Do not use quotation marks. Unlike standard prose block quotes, you must replicate the poem's original formatting, including unusual spacing or indentations. The parenthetical citation for a block quote appears after the final period, which is the opposite of standard in-text citation rules.

Poetry citations prioritize line numbers over page numbers. In your first citation, use the word "lines" to establish what the numbers represent (e.g., lines 5-8). For subsequent citations, use only the numbers. If the poem does not have line numbers, use page numbers. If the author is mentioned in your sentence, only the numbers go in the parentheses. If not, include the author's last name followed by the line numbers. Ensure there is no comma between the name and the line number in MLA style.

Your Works Cited (MLA) or References (APA) page must provide the full path to the poem. For a poem in a book or anthology, follow this format: Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Poem." Title of Anthology, edited by Editor's Name, Publisher, Year, pp. Page Range. For online sources, include the URL and the name of the website. Accuracy here is vital for allowing your instructor to locate the specific version of the text you analyzed.