Rod Hull initially restitched Emu's tears (5)
I believe the answer is:
rheum
'tears' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Poetic tears' mean 'rheum' so perhaps 'tears' could also mean 'rheum')
'rod hull initially restitched emu's' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
'restitched' indicates an anagram.
The initial letters of 'rod hull' is 'rh'.
'emu' anagrammed gives 'eum'.
'rh'+'eum'='RHEUM'
(Other definitions for rheum that I've seen before include "Tears of a cold" , "Catarrh" , "Eyes watering" , "nasal discharge" , "Poetic tears" .)