Read the poem and answer Questions 26 to 30. Oft in the stilly night Ere slumber's chain has bound me Fond memory brings the light of other days around me: ...

The theme of the poem is the poet's yearning for happier times gone. The poem is about memories that come back to the poet in the quiet moments before sleep, memories of his youth that are bittersweet. The smiles and tears of boyhood years, the words of love spoken then, and the eyes that shone are all memories that the poet recalls with fondness. However, the poet also recognizes that these memories are gone and that the cheerful hearts of the past are now broken. The repetition of the phrase "Oft in the stilly night" at the beginning and end of the poem emphasizes the poet's longing for the past and his desire to relive those happy moments. Overall, the theme of the poem is a nostalgic yearning for happier times that have passed.