Crossword Genius

US poet starts to open up, led by divine spirit (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

angelou

'us poet' is the definition.

'starts to open up led by divine spirit' is the wordplay.
'starts to' suggests taking the first letters.
'led by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'divine spirit' becomes 'angel'.
The first letters of 'open up' is 'ou'.
'ou' put after 'angel' is 'ANGELOU'.

(Another definition for angelou that I've seen is " Author of The Heart of a Woman".)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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