Speak in clubs about poetry (8)
I believe the answer is:
converse
'speak' is the definition.
(conversing is a kind of speaking)
'clubs about poetry' is the wordplay.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'about' becomes 'on' (**).
'poetry' becomes 'verse' ('verse' can be a synonym of 'poetry').
'c'+'on'+'verse'='CONVERSE'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for converse that I've seen before include "Talk together" , "Opposing" , "take part in discussion" , "express thoughts and ideas?" , "speak" .)