The Minister and the Roofer

 
The poem of this post is titled "No One Mentioned the Roofer" by the acclaimed Irish poet and playwright Rita Ann Higgins. It gained prominent attention as part of the Poems on the Underground series, which brings poetry to commuters on the London Underground network.
 

The poem is a sharp, satirical commentary on political indifference, focusing on a government official visiting a community. While the locals fawn over the Minister and his nice suit, the titular roofer -who has lost his job and seen his hours and benefits cut- is completely ignored.