An elegy is a poem written to mourn someone who has died or to express sadness about a loss. When a poet writes an elegy, they're creating a serious, thoughtful piece that honors the person's memory and explores feelings of grief and remembrance.

One famous elegy in English is “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman, written after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. In it, Whitman compares Lincoln to a ship's captain who has guided the nation safely through a storm (the Civil War) but dies just as the journey ends. The poem captures both triumph and heartbreak.

Elegies can mourn death or other kinds of loss: a way of life that's disappeared, innocence that's gone, or a friendship that's ended. What makes a poem an elegy is its elegiac tone, meaning it feels reflective, mournful, and serious. The focus is on quiet contemplation of what's been lost rather than dramatic expressions of grief.