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...
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.
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