Poet's pigeon sure to go back to base (5)
I believe the answer is:
homer
I believe this is a double definition.
'poet's' is the first definition.
(Homer is an example)
'pigeon sure to go back to base' is the second definition.
(homing pigeon)
(Other definitions for homer that I've seen before include "addition to the score?" , "Blind man" , "Racing pigeon?" , "Ancient Greek poet" , "writer of old" .)