The right answer is "B. Lifelessness "
The whole text expresses a sad, discouraged and lifeless feeling.
The passage that makes this more evident is:
" All along the road the reddish
purplish, forked, upstanding, twiggy
stuff of bushes and small trees
with dead, brown leaves under them
leafless vines
Lifeless in appearance, sluggish
dazed spring approaches"