Short treatise followed in recital (5)
I believe the answer is:
tract
'short treatise' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'followed in recital' is the wordplay.
'followed' becomes 'tracked' (to track is to follow or tail).
'in recital' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'tracked' is a homophone of 'TRACT'.
(Other definitions for tract that I've seen before include "Publication" , "religious work in > area" , "Extensive area of land" , "Piece of writing" , "Large area; treatise" .)