The answer is: A. Exposition
Since it describes the beginning of the story
It means c) rare
scarce means rare and copious is its synonym
vacant and occupied are antonyms of scarce meaning plentiful
hence, the double colon separating the pairs of words
EXPLANATION:
Your shadow is sunlight on a plate of silver;
Your footsteps, the seeding-place of lilies;
Your hands moving, a chime of bells across a windless air.
The movement of your hands is the long, golden running of light from a rising sun;
What is the hopping of birds upon a garden path