An elegiac couplet is a poetic form consisting of two lines, typically used in ancient Greek and Latin poetry. The first line is written in a dactylic hexameter, while the second line is in dactylic pentameter. This structure allows poets to express themes of loss, mourning, and reflection, making it particularly suitable for elegies, which are poems that lament the dead. The form was notably used by poets such as Homer and Ovid, and it has influenced later literary traditions. In modern poetry, elegiac couplets can still be found, allowing contemporary poets to explore similar themes of grief and remembrance in a structured format.