noun
poem composer; poet
Refers specifically to someone who composes traditional Japanese poetry (waka, tanka). Often used in classical contexts or when discussing poetry composition.
この歌の詠み人は不明です。
The composer of this poem is unknown.
詠み人知らずの和歌が多く残っている。
Many poems by unknown composers remain.
Compound of 詠み (yomi, 'composing poetry', continuative form of 詠む) + 人 (hito, 'person'), with rendaku voicing of ひと to びと.