How do I cite a poem in MLA?

To cite a poem in MLA (9th 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 MLA?

In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author lines 12–14)

How to Cite a Poem in MLA (9th edition)

Learn how to cite poems, verse, and poetry from anthologies or collections in MLA format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

MLA Works Cited Format

Here is the standard MLA format for citing a poem in your Works Cited page:

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

MLA Example for a Poem

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

Whitcombe, Iris. “Reading Room at Dusk.” Collected Poems, 1990-2010, edited by Owen Pratt, Lakeshore Press, 2012, pp. 112–13.

Matching in-text citation: (Whitcombe)

MLA In-Text Citation

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

Parenthetical

(Author lines 12–14)

Narrative

Author opens the poem with "..." (lines 1–4).

Key MLA Formatting Rules

Put the poem title in quotation marks and italicize the anthology title.
Credit the editor with "edited by" after the anthology title.
Include the publisher, year, and the page range as pp. xx–xx.
In the text, cite line numbers (lines 12–14), not page numbers.
Use a slash with a space on each side to mark line breaks in short quotations.

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 MLA (9th 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 Works Cited: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match MLA 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: mla.csl

Editorial sources

MLA Style Center — works cited →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a poem in MLA?: To cite a poem in MLA (9th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the MLA format for a poem citation?: The MLA format for a poem is: Author Last Name, First Name. "Title of Poem." Title of Anthology, edited by Editor First Name Last Name, Publisher, Year, pp. xx–xx.
What does the in-text citation look like for a poem in MLA?: In MLA, the in-text citation for the example above is (Author lines 12–14)