Charley Turner

Charley Turner - meaning Summary

Song That Stirs Fight

The brief poem sketches a singer, Charley, whose performance of Polan’s death has an intense, physical effect on listeners. His song grips hearts and silences rooms, creating suspense and communal involvement. The lines imply that storytelling here does more than mourn: it incites loyalty and a readiness to defend Polan’s memory. The poem foregrounds orality, charismatic delivery, and the power of narrative to move a crowd to action.