Determine what you want to reflect on in your ubi sunt poem, such as classical literature, a personal event in your life, an old object or a specific person.
Determine the theme of your poem that is represented by each line. For example, your theme could be poverty, the degradation of the arts, a specific era of writing or any other type of topic that should be expressed in the poem.
Begin your ubi sunt poem with a question that sets the overall tone for your poem, such as, “Where are forgotten poets?”
Write each line of the poem with the beginning part of reflection, such as, “Where are,” or, “Where is.” For example, if your opening line is, "Where are the Elizabethan poets?" you should make your second line reference a specific poet or poem from that era, such as, "Where is Sir Walter Raleigh and his disenchantment?"
Finish the poem with a statement instead of a question that ends the poems with a resonate tone. For example, you can end a poem about deceased poets with, "They live on through their words." Edit the poem when you’re finished to keep it short and concise.