Crossword Genius

Short poem composed by child - no - alien? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sonnet

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'short poem' is the definition.
'sonnet' can be an answer for 'poem' (type of poem). I'm not sure about the 'short' bit.

'child no alien?' is the wordplay.
'child' becomes 'son' (male child).
'no' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation).
'alien?' becomes 'et' (extraterrestrial).
'son'+'n'+'et'='SONNET'

'composed by' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sonnet that I've seen before include "14-line poem" , "Shelley's Ozymandias, for example" , "Fourteen-line poem" , "The poem was sent on" , "Poem of fourteen lines" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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