As a poet, a hot German one (5)
I believe the answer is:
heine
'as a poet a' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'hot german one' is the wordplay.
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation eg on taps).
'german one' becomes 'eine' (I've seen this in another clue).
'h'+'eine'='HEINE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for heine that I've seen before include "Heinrich -, Ger. poet" , "Heinrich -, nineteenth century German poet" .)