Final answer:
The figurative language in the passage uses water as a symbol. It represents something fleeting and transient.
Step-by-step explanation:
The object being used as a symbol in the given passage is water. Water is described as disappearing before it touches the sand and evaporating before it touches the wilted squash flowers. This figurative language suggests that water represents something fleeting, ephemeral, or transient in the passage. It adds to the overall atmosphere and theme of impermanence and the passage's deeper meaning.
Learn more about symbolism in literature