Outstanding verse in recital (4)
I believe the answer is:
owed
'outstanding' is the definition.
(as in an outstanding debt)
'verse in recital' is the wordplay.
'verse' becomes 'ode' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in recital' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'ode' is a homophone of 'OWED'.
(Other definitions for owed that I've seen before include "In debt to" , "Was indebted" , "Was due to pay" , "Outstanding" , "to be paid" .)