Discover the Hidden Depths and Surprising Twists Within Tara Lynn Hawk’s Poem “The New”
Have you ever found yourself staring at a list of resolutions, ticking off grand plans like long hikes and compassionate deeds… and then suddenly wondered, “Wait, what am I actually doing *right now*?” It’s funny how we fill our minds – and sometimes our calendars – with these noble intentions, hoping to shape a better self, only to get tangled in the endless laundry of goals. This poem catches that restless swirl perfectly, nudging us to pause in the swirl of “more” and just check in with the present moment. No fanfare, no perfection, just the raw “right now.” It’s a little like cleaning out the junk drawer inside your own brain. Curious? Let this piece gently poke at your daily dance between wanting and doing – sometimes, the toughest journey is the one within your own mind.

Long hikes
Naps
Eat well
Show compassion towards animals
Spend less
Give unused things away
Reach out more
Clean out the junk drawer
All these things
The long lists
Goals, desires
Resolutions
But what
What are you doing right now