Ancient poetic character (7)

I believe the answer is:

mariner

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'ancient poetic character' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

This is the entire clue.

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(Other definitions for mariner that I've seen before include "Sea dog" , "'''The Rime of the Ancient ...'' (Coleridge) (7)'" , "Person sailing" , "Seaman" , "Seafarer, old salt" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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