From “The Seed-Shop” by Muriel Stuart

Here in a quiet and dusty room they lie, Faded as crumbled stone or shifting sand, Forlorn as ashes, shrivelled, scentless, dry— Meadows and gardens running through my hand.

Which of the following best describes the connotation of the meadows and gardens metaphor?

A) The metaphor is neutral and simply completes the image developed in the first three lines of the poem.

B) The metaphor is positive and starkly contrasts wit the description in the first three lines of the poem.

C) The metaphor is frightening and creates a jarring image that is completely disconnected from the earlier description.

D) The metaphor is negative and reveals that the speaker is confused or in conflict with her feelings about the seeds.