Poetic pigeon? (5)

I believe the answer is:

homer

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'pigeon?' is the definition.
(I know that homer is a type of pigeon)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for homer that I've seen before include "Great Greek poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey" , "messenger of war?" , "Bart Simpson's father" , "returning flier" , "The classical poet" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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