I went to the Garden of Love,
And saw what I never had seen:
A chapel was built in the midst,
Where I used to play on the green.

And the gates of this Chapel were shut,
And "Thou shalt not" writ over the door;
So I turn'd to the Garden of Love,
That so many sweet flowers bore,

And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tomb-stones where flowers should be:
And Priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars my joys and desires.

What does the word 'green' signify in the last line of the first stanza? Choose the correct option out of the following.

prime of life

Here's why:

• Lap of nature: While the garden is connected to nature, "lap" suggests comfort and nurturing, which contradicts the overall tone of loss and restriction in the poem.
• Within the restricted area: While the chapel might be considered restricted, the focus of the line is on the green itself, not the location relative to the chapel.
• Grasslands: This is too literal and doesn't capture the deeper meaning.

"Green" in this context is a metaphor for youth, innocence, and freedom. The speaker remembers playing on the green, which symbolizes a carefree time before the restrictions and burdens of adulthood ("Thou shalt not"). This carefree time is now lost, replaced by the cemetery and the priests binding desires.

Therefore, prime of life best captures the metaphorical meaning of "green" in the poem, highlighting the contrast between the speaker's past and present state.