Poet’s flanked by escort: we encounter hosts (5)

I believe the answer is:

tween

'poet's flanked by' is the definition.
(archaic or poetic word for 'between')

'escort we encounter hosts' is the wordplay.
'hosts' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
''TWEEN' is hidden within 'escort we encounter'.

(Another definition for tween that I've seen is " In middle of abridged".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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