What does houseman compare to life to make the point that life is short and everyday should be cherished and enjoyed

He compared it to a blossoming cherry tree. He basically said that you should enjoy every moment of life because it is short.

:)

the author compares life with a cherry tree and ponders about life and how fast it goes away .

Explanation: here's the related piece a poetry by Houseman: "loveliest of trees, the cherry now"

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with bloom along the bough,

And stands about the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,

Twenty will not come again,

And take from seventy springs a score,

It only leaves me fifty more.  

And since to look at things in bloom

Fifty springs are little room,

About the woodlands I will go

To see the cherry hung with snow.

i   believe   the   answer   is   d