When analyzing or writing a paper about a fictional work, you could analyze the symbolism and/or implications in the piece of fiction. In the academic setting, it simply doesn't matter if ideas conveyed in writing impact your life or not.
The poem is, in fact, about lost love. The snow is symbolic of the man's pain and suffering. The leaves are symbols of hope. The answers for this question aren't exactly clear. I think it is Discussion of a life's philosophy.
