Across
1
Poet feeding rats to damsel in distress (9)
8
Target for lion, perhaps, little creature has run off with another (8)
9
Some words nippers read out? (6)
10
John Betjeman's third poet recalled (6)
11
Agree to protect tease — in the family way? (8)
12
Work late? Male hasn't finished, certainly (4,2)
15
Poet ready to break Swiss dish (8)
16
Direction taken by writer in contribution to discussion? (8)
19
Bum touring new French city (6)
21
A new rake in motion, stir again (8)
22
Remain with server in shop (6)
24
Poet, Tennyson's subject under discussion? (6)
25
Poet in denial reviewing retrospective (8)
26
Issue: point overturned (4)
27
Demanding different results, serious failings initially concealed (9)
Down
1
Poet in squalor, number coming up (5)
2
Book Scottish island up for poet (7)
3
Puncturing endless drivel, singular poet (5)
4
Person choosing a little carrot, celery going the wrong way (7)
5
Eye issue limiting in poet (9)
6
Local interest in airline a monarch set up (4,3)
7
Paul's locked in 10s unfortunately — seasonal hang-up? (9)
13
Whistler carried by doddery mother out of that place (9)
14
Birds hearing poet who jumps from planes? (9)
17
Novel closer for poet (7)
18
After U-turn, minister working well in house (7)
20
Absolutely ludicrously hot inside pastry that's flipped over (3,4)
22
Poet takes Browning too far? (5)
23
Classic year incomplete, end of April void (5)