From stolen books to accidental uncles, from the contemplation of canines to the sensation of flying, Chris Abbate's second collection of poetry explores life's biggest questions through the lens of ordinary people, objects, and experiences. Brimming with curiosity, WORDS FOR FLYING navigates the turbulence of adolescence into adulthood and the unending quest for meaning. These poems straddle the spheres of innocence and experience and dive into a world of wonder where couches whisper their wisdom, fish inhabit the center of the universe, and grandfathers become gods. The poet Paul Hostovsky says, "Why do the best of Chris Abbate's poems make me cry?... It's because, as with any great music, beautiful singing can have that effect on us. And we wipe our eyes so that we may keep on reading."