Which poetic device is used in the following line Loose clouds like decaying leaves are shed?

The poetic device used in the line "Loose clouds like decaying leaves are shed" is simile.

Here's why:

* Simile: A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two things using the words "like" or "as."

* In this line, the clouds are being directly compared to decaying leaves. The use of "like" explicitly signals the comparison.

Therefore, the line employs a simile to create a vivid image of the clouds being shed like falling leaves.