Do you cite line numbers for poems?

Only cite line numbers for poems when there are line numbers on the original source. For example, if a website or book provides line numbers, all MLA in-text citations for quotes or paraphrases should include line numbers.

In the first MLA poetry citation, include the word “line” or “lines” before the numbers. In subsequent in-text citations, use the numbers only.

MLA line number citations examples
Eliot’s poem begins, “April is the cruelest month, breeding / Lilacs out of the dead land” (lines 1–2).

Images of shadows are prevalent in Eliot’s second stanza: “Your shadow at morning striding behind you / Or your shadow at evening rising to meet you” (27–29).

If the source does not number the poem’s lines, omit line numbers from in-text citations. Only cite a page if the poem spans two or more pages of the source (e.g., a book or literary magazine).

If the poem is on one page and lines aren’t numbered, omit locator information from in-text citations.

You can also use QuillBot’s free Citation Generator to create MLA poetry citations.