Autumn Song by Sarojini Naidu

Like a joy on the heart of a sorrow,
The sunset hangs on a cloud;
A golden storm of glittering sheaves*,
Of fair and frail and fluttering leaves,
The wild wind blows in a cloud.

Hark to a voice that is calling
To my heart in the voice of the wind:
My heart is weary and sad and alone,
For its dreams like the fluttering leaves have gone,
And why should I stay behind?

*a sheaf is a bundle of harvested grain that's tied together—sheaves is plural

Explain the author's purpose of the poem. Identify and explain one example of figurative language and how the author hoped it affected the reader.