A broken tulip

1.

Unroll it.
Blue side towards mouth.
Pull apart
so it pops out like an accordion.
Slip small
white bands over each ear
push up
your folded kerchief again
pull down
your glasses so they don’t fog
each
time
you
breathe.

2.

Speak louder when on the phone
your voice traveling through folds
smile
to customers as though they see more than your eyes.
Act normal
breathe normal
ask normal
things to the customer who leans in close
and the one who stands six feet away.

3.

Serve the nurse who says
she’s rubbed her hand raw.
Serve the car mechanic who says
he’s running out of work.
Serve the thin girl who says
the rain falls like a wall, now.
Serve the man behind his own
face mask.

Try not to think of how many
you are not serving today.
Try to still sing like normal,
as you soak every surface
in sharp bleach
all over again.

4.

To dispose of the mask
pinch from the inside,
roll,
tie shut with the ear elastic
toss