Upon a Bed of Petals

He loved to tend the garden that took up half of the back yard He was out there come rain or shine – the work was not that hard When the bombs hit Pearl Harbor, the shovel and hoe were put away He went with the other boys in the neighborhood and signed up the next day He dreamt each night in the barracks of the flowers blooming back home Being taught how to be a soldier on the land or sea or foam They say he died a hero and to his parents sent his medals Which they placed in the backyard upon a bed of petals