Standing before empty chest (5)
I believe the answer is:
erect
'standing' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'before empty chest' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term).
'empty' means to remove the middle letters.
'chest' with its centre taken out is 'ct'.
'ere'+'ct'='ERECT'
(Other definitions for erect that I've seen before include "Upright; put up" , "Upright or vertical" , "Upright; construct" , "Assemble" , "Upstanding" .)