The White Cliffs by Alice Duer Miller

A light blue carpet on the stair And tall young footmen everywhere, Tall young men with English faces Standing rigidly in their places, Rows and rows of them stiff and staid In powder and breeches and bright gold braid; And high above them on the wall Hung other English faces--all Part of the pattern of English life-- General Sir Charles, and his pretty wife, Admirals, Lord Lieutenants of Shires, Men who were served by these footmen's sires At their great parties--none of them knowing How soon or late they would all be going In plainer dress to a sterner strife-- Another pattern of English life.

I went up the stairs between them all, Strange and frightened and shy and small, And as I entered the ballroom door, Saw something I never had seen before Except in portraits--a stout old guest With a broad blue ribbon across his breast-- That blue as deep as the Southern sea, Bluer than skies can ever be-- The Countess of Salisbury--Edward the Third-- No damn merit--the Duke--I heard My own voice saying: "Upon my word, The garter!" and clapped my hands like a child.