Lean poet ran like animal (8)
I believe the answer is:
antelope
'animal' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'lean poet ran' is the wordplay.
'ran' indicates anagramming the letters (letters have run around).
'lean'+'poet'='leanpoet'
'leanpoet' is an anagram of 'ANTELOPE'.
'like' is the link.
(Other definitions for antelope that I've seen before include "A graceful gazelle from Africa" , "Springbok, perhaps" , "Long-legged, graceful animal" , "Horned animal" , "Graceful ruminant - one leapt (anag)" .)