It is up to a new poet to go lightly (6)
I believe the answer is:
tiptoe
'go lightly' is the definition.
(to tiptoe is to move slowly or lightly)
'it is up to a new poet' is the wordplay.
'is up' says the letters should be written in reverse (I've seen 'being up' mean this).
'to a new' indicates anagramming the letters.
'it' backwards is 'ti'.
'poet' anagrammed gives 'ptoe'.
'ti'+'ptoe'='TIPTOE'
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tiptoe that I've seen before include "Walk very carefully" , "Walk very quietly with heels raised" , "Walk stealthily" , "Walk very lightly - musically through the tulips" , "or get a bit higher on this?" .)