Cross artist only half-recalled poetry (8)
I believe the answer is:
traverse
'cross' is the definition.
(I know that cross can be written as traverse)
'artist only half-recalled poetry' is the wordplay.
'only half' means to take half the letters.
'recalled' is a reversal indicator (to recall can mean to bring something back).
'poetry' becomes 'verse' (synonyms).
'artist' halved is 'art'.
'art' written backwards gives 'tra'.
'tra'+'verse'='TRAVERSE'
(Other definitions for traverse that I've seen before include "get across" , "Move across" , "Extend or bridge across" , "In mountaineering, a steep slope to be crossed from side to side" , "Go across" .)