Birds on a wire...embers in a fire

Hi folks
There is a poem I read once in freshman college 20 years ago--I liked it--have never managed to find it again and wondered if anyone could enlighten me on the Author. Is has some thing to do with that last chapter in life and two of the lines and or thoughts were "birds on a wire" and "embers in a fire" It would mean a lot to me to read it once again...

[email protected]

Thanks