How do I cite a poem in Chicago?

To cite a poem in Chicago (17th 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 Chicago?

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

How to Cite a Poem in Chicago (17th edition)

Learn how to cite poems, verse, and poetry from anthologies or collections in Chicago format (17th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Chicago Bibliography Format

Here is the standard Chicago format for citing a poem in your bibliography:

Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Poem." In Title of Anthology, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, xx–xx. Place: Publisher, Year.

Chicago Example for a Poem

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

Whitcombe, Iris. 2012. “Reading Room at Dusk.” In Collected Poems, 1990-2010, edited by Owen Pratt. Lakeshore Press.

Matching in-text citation: (Whitcombe 2012)

Chicago In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Author Year)

Narrative

Author (Year) writes...

Key Chicago Formatting Rules

Put the poem title in quotation marks and italicize the anthology title.
Introduce the anthology with "In" and credit the editor with "edited by".
Give the page range after the editor, then place, publisher, and year.
Cite specific lines in a note or parenthetical when quoting.
Notes-Bibliography: use footnotes; Author-Date: use parenthetical.

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 Chicago (17th 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 bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago 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: chicago.csl

Editorial sources

Chicago Manual of Style — citation quick guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a poem in Chicago?: To cite a poem in Chicago (17th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Chicago format for a poem citation?: The Chicago format for a poem is: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Poem." In Title of Anthology, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, xx–xx. Place: Publisher, Year.
What does the in-text citation look like for a poem in Chicago?: In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author Year)