Technique backward-looking with bit of poetry? Makes one cross (8)
I believe the answer is:
traverse
'one cross' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'technique backward-looking with bit of poetry?' is the wordplay.
'technique' becomes 'art' (I've seen this in other clues).
'backward-looking' says the letters should be written backwards.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'bit of poetry?' becomes 'verse'.
'art' in reverse letter order is 'tra'.
'tra'+'verse'='TRAVERSE'
'makes' is the link.
(Other definitions for traverse that I've seen before include "Ski diagonally across (a slope)" , "cover" , "Travel across or pass over" , "In mountaineering, a steep slope to be crossed from side to side" , "Extend or bridge across" .)