Works of poets are fantastic (8)
I believe the answer is:
operates
'works' is the definition.
('operate' can be a synonym of 'work')
'poets are fantastic' is the wordplay.
'fantastic' indicates anagramming the letters.
'poets'+'are'='poetsare'
'poetsare' with letters rearranged gives 'OPERATES'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for operates that I've seen before include "Performs, surgery perhaps" , "Functions" , "Performs sugery" , "Works" , "[TREAT] s with a knife" .)