How to Cite a Poem in MLA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 02/07/2025

Citing a poem in MLA format depends on where the poem is published. The following guidelines explain how to cite poems from books, edited collections, and websites, with examples to illustrate each format.

CITING A POEM ON A WEBSITE

When citing a poem accessed online, include the following details:

• Poet’s name.
• Title of the poem in quotation marks.
• Original publication year (if available).
• Website name in italics.
• Publication date of the webpage (if available).
• URL.
• If no publication date is available, include the access date as the last element of the citation.

Citation	Hughes, Langston. “I, Too.” 1926. Poetry Geeks, 12 May 2024, www.poetry.com/poems/47558/i-too.
Structure	Author Surname, First name. “Poem Title.” Original publication year. Website Name, Day Month Year, URL.

Citation	Hughes, Langston. “I, Too.” 1926. Poetry Geeks, www.poetry.com/poems/47558/i-too. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
Structure	Author Surname, First name. “Poem Title.” Original publication year. Website Name, URL. Access date.

CITING A POEM IN A BOOK

When citing a poem from a collection of the poet’s work, include the following details:

• Poet’s name.
• Title of the poem in quotation marks.
• Title of the book in italics.
• Publisher.
• Year of publication.
• Page number(s) where the poem appears.

Citation	Frost, Robert. “The Road Not Taken.” Mountain Interval, Henry Holt and Company, 1916, pp. 9-10.
Structure	Author Surname, First name. “Poem Title.” Book Title, Publisher, Year, Page number(s).

This citation includes all necessary components: the author’s name, the poem title in quotation marks, the book title in italics, the publisher, the publication year, and the page number.

CITING A POEM IN AN EDITED COLLECTION

When citing a poem from an edited collection, include the following details:

• Poet’s name.
• Title of the poem in quotation marks.
• Title of the book in italics.
• Editor’s name preceded by “edited by”.
• Publisher.
• Year of publication.
• Page number(s) where the poem appears.

Citation	Dickinson, Emily. “Because I Could Not Stop for Death.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, edited by Nina Baym, W. W. Norton, 2003, pp. 1204-1205.
Structure	Author Surname, First name. “Poem Title.” Book Title, edited by Editor first name Surname, Publisher, Year, Page number(s).

IN-TEXT CITATION FORMATTING 

When citing poems in-text, the format depends on whether the poem includes line numbers, divisions (such as cantos or books), or neither. It is essential to refer precisely to the parts of the poem being analyzed to guide readers accurately.

Poem Includes Line Numbers:

• Cite the author’s surname followed by the line numbers.
• Use “line” or “lines” to indicate the specific lines being referenced.

Example	(Shakespeare, lines 14-18)
Structure	(Author’s Surname, line numbers)

In this example, the citation refers to lines 14 through 18 of a poem by William Shakespeare. 

If quoting multiple non-consecutive lines, separate the line numbers with commas, e.g., 

Example	(Shakespeare, lines 14, 20-22).
Structure	(Author’s Surname, line numbers)

Poem Does Not Include Line Numbers:

Cite only the author’s Surname.

This is typically the case for short poems or older works without standardized line numbering.

Example	(Plath)
Structure	(Author’s Surname)

For example, referencing a poem like “Lady Lazarus” by Sylvia Plath would only require the author’s name, as line numbers are not present in the original publication.

Poem Includes Divisions and Line Numbers:

• Include the division number followed by the line numbers.
• Use a period to separate the division number from the line numbers.

Example	(Dante 1.32-35)
Structure	(Author’s Surname, canto.line numbers)

In this example, “1.32-35” refers to Canto 1, lines 32 to 35 of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno. This method ensures clarity when dealing with lengthy, segmented works.

If citing multiple divisions, include each division and its corresponding lines, e.g.,

Example	(Dante 1.32-35; 3.50-52)
Structure	(Author’s Surname, canto.line numbers; canto.line numbers)

Use Italics for Longer Works: When citing an entire collection or anthology, always italicize the book title to differentiate it from the poem title. Quoting Poetry in Text: When quoting three or fewer lines of poetry, use a forward slash (/) to indicate line breaks. For longer quotations, use block formatting without quotation marks. Cite Multiple Poems by the Same Author: When referencing more than one poem by the same author, include the poem’s title in the in-text citation to clarify which work you are discussing. Maintain Original Formatting: Preserve the original punctuation, capitalization, and line breaks when quoting poetry to maintain the poem’s intended meaning and structure. Include Page or Line Numbers Where Possible: Always provide specific page or line numbers in citations when they are available to help readers locate the referenced passage quickly. Use Title Case for Poem Titles: Capitalize the first and last words of the poem title and all principal words in between. Avoid capitalizing articles, prepositions, and conjunctions unless they are the first or last word of the title.