Steps to Follow

1. Understand the Purpose

   An elegy is a reflective poem that mourns the loss of someone or something dear. It's not just about expressing sorrow but also about honoring and remembering the subject. Elegies often move from grief to consolation, offering a sense of closure.

2. Choose Your Subject

   Decide whom or what you're elegizing. While traditionally written for deceased individuals, elegies can also mourn lost times, places, or even abstract concepts. The key is a profound sense of loss and reflection.

3. Select a Structure

   Elegies don't adhere to a strict form, but many employ quatrains with an ABAB rhyme scheme and iambic pentameter. However, modern elegies often embrace free verse, allowing the emotion to dictate the flow.

4. Incorporate Themes of Mourning and Remembrance

   Delve into the emotions of loss, but also celebrate the life or essence of the subject. Use vivid imagery and personal anecdotes to create a connection between the reader and the subject.

5. Conclude with Reflection or Consolation

   Traditionally, elegies move from mourning to a sense of peace or acceptance. Conclude your poem by offering solace, perhaps through the idea of legacy, memory, or the cyclical nature of life.