How do I cite a poem in APA?

To cite a poem in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What does the in-text citation look like for a poem in APA?

In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author, Year)

How to Cite a Poem in APA (7th edition)

Learn how to cite poems, verse, and poetry from anthologies or collections in APA format (7th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

APA Reference List Format

Here is the standard APA format for citing a poem in your reference list:

Author, A. A. (Year). Title of poem. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of anthology (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.

APA Example for a Poem

A complete APA reference for a poem, formatted by the official APA CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Whitcombe, I. (2012). Reading room at dusk. In O. Pratt (Ed.), Collected Poems, 1990-2010 (pp. 112–113). Lakeshore Press.

Matching in-text citation: (Whitcombe, 2012)

APA In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Author, Year)

Narrative

Author (Year) writes...

Key APA Formatting Rules

Cite the poem as a work in an anthology or collection, like a book chapter.
Do not italicize or quote the poem title; italicize the anthology title.
Introduce the editor with "In" and the role (Ed.) or (Eds.), then give the page range as (pp. xx–xx).
End with the publisher.
For a poem published on its own, treat it as a book.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your poem.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the APA (7th edition) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match APA requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: apa.csl

Editorial sources

APA Style — references →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a poem in APA?: To cite a poem in APA (7th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the APA format for a poem citation?: The APA format for a poem is: Author, A. A. (Year). Title of poem. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of anthology (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.
What does the in-text citation look like for a poem in APA?: In APA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author, Year)