Absurd poem in difficult setting — so modern (12)
I believe the answer is:
contemporary
'modern' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'absurd poem in difficult setting' is the wordplay.
'absurd' is an anagram indicator.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'difficult setting' becomes 'contrary' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'poem' with letters rearranged gives 'empo'.
'empo' going into 'contrary' is 'CONTEMPORARY'.
'so' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for contemporary that I've seen before include "Modern in style or design" , "current" .)