Yearns for bent spine (5)
I believe the answer is:
pines
'yearns' is the definition.
(I know this)
'bent spine' is the wordplay.
'bent' indicates anagramming the letters.
'spine' with letters rearranged gives 'PINES'.
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for pines that I've seen before include "Yearns for evergreen trees?" , "Yearns for the conifers" , "Longs for or languishes" , "Coniferous trees" , "Longs for evergreen trees" .)