Hello. You did not inform the poem to which this question refers, which makes it impossible for it to be answered accurately. However, I will try to help you in the best possible way.
The use of similes and metaphors in a poem is done with the objective of extending the meaning of the message that the poet wants to pass through the poem, therefore, the poet writes comparisons that present new and deeper and more imposing meanings.
I think the helping verb is ''how many''
