Crossword Genius

A poet embracing love on a ship (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aboard

'on a ship' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a poet embracing love' is the wordplay.
'poet' becomes 'bard' (bard is a kind of poet).
'embracing' indicates putting letters inside.
'love' becomes 'o' (In tennis, 'love' means 'zero').
'bard' placed around 'o' is 'board'.
'a'+'board'='ABOARD'

(Other definitions for aboard that I've seen before include "On ship or plane - not on land" , "On (a ship/plane)" , "... [CRUISE SHIP] here, perhaps" , "Joined for mutual benefit" , "ready to take off" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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