If you're just wanting a desktop icon (shortcut) to the Yahoo site where you view your email in your browser, just go to the site and add it to "Favorites" (the IE name) or whatever your browser calls it. Once it's in you list of favorites you can drag it from there and drop it on your desktop.

(There probably are more direct methods, but putting the link in favorites assures that it's a good link, and dragging a copy of the link from there to the desktop is easy.)

It's usual for email programs to create an icon in the "Quick Start Bar," usually at the lower left of your screen, when you set up an email account. You may have one there that you've forgotten about. If there's an icon on the Quick Start Bar you can just click on it and drag it out onto the desktop. The original icon will remain on the Bar, and a copy icon will be on the desktop. Note that the Quick Start Bar is rather short, and usually only shows three or four icons visibly, but if there's a pair of chevron pointers there (>>) clicking them may show more than you thought you had.

If you're using an actual email program, the shortcut will usually be to a .exe file somewhere in your C:\Program Files, and often in a sub folder under your username. (It helps to know the name of the program you use.) If you can find the right file, right click on it and select "Send to Desktop" if that option appears, or "Create Shortcut" and then if necessary drag the shortcut onto the desktop.

IFF your icon disappeared because you ran "Desktop Cleanup" that utility is supposed to move any shortcuts (icons) it removes to a separate folder but doesn't actually delete them. If you can find that folder you can just "send it back" or drag it to the desktop. (I don't use desk cleanup so I've forgotten what the foldername is or where to find it.)

I think that's what you were asking for(?).

John