Figures to accept a poem as perfect (5)
I believe the answer is:
model
'perfect' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'figures to accept a poem' is the wordplay.
'figures' becomes 'ml' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'to accept' indicates putting letters inside.
'a poem' becomes 'ode' (ode is a type of poem).
'ml' placed around 'ode' is 'MODEL'.
'as' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for model that I've seen before include "Pose" , "Possibly the last" , "Poser for painter or photographer" , "She saunters on the catwalk" , "Small-scale representation" .)