Possible Clues:

• Figure doing poet harm?
• Symbolic form in Homer apt to change
• Came across a figure of speech -- this one?
• Figure of speech that's upset mother, about father retiring
• Franklin’s “A good conscience is a continual Christmas,” e.g
• Expression where something is described as if it really is what it merely resembles
• Figure of speech upset mother, about father retiring
• Bumped into Harpo transformed as a figure of speech
• Face the music, perhaps, mixing this?
• Something that shouldn't be mixed