What type of figurative language is used in the phrase his life is as barren as the dusty yards of our town?

The phrase "his life is as barren as the dusty yards of our town" uses a simile, which is a type of figurative language that compares two different things using "like" or "as." In this case, the comparison emphasizes the emptiness and lack of fulfillment in his life by likening it to the desolate, unproductive state of dusty yards. This vivid imagery helps convey a sense of desolation and stagnation.