Contrary way in which poet expects to be paid? (8)
I believe the answer is:
perverse
'contrary' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
(Other definitions for perverse that I've seen before include "'Unreasonable, awkward (8)'" , "Deliberately contrary" , "Wrongly determined" , "Disposed to oppose and contradict" , "'Contrary to what's considered right, proper or good (8)'" .)