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...
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.
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