If You Smile at Me I Will Understand, ‘Cause That is Something Everybody Everywhere Does in the Same Language*

An open prompt to the writing community

Please hit “play.”

Here we go, getting “relational” again.

*While listening to this song … “Wooden Ships” by Crosby, Stills and Nash, the lightning bolt opening line struck me.

If you smile at me I will understand, ‘cause that is something everybody everywhere does in the same language.

The meaning of the song’s full lyrics elude me, but this great opening line really resonates. And, it poses an interesting question.

In the diverse world in which we live, full of people separated by language, culture, history and much more, do we all “smile … in the same language” as this song opines?

I don’t want to define the prompt further by adding secondary questions or suggestions on how to respond.

You are the creatives, please create.

Without knowing for certain, I would suggest that Christopher Robin at Songstories, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) at The Brain is a Noodle and Aimée Gramblin at Age of Empathy might be willing to receive and review stories written in response to the prompt “Do we all “smile in the same language”?

Depending on story slant, I’m sure many other editors would be willing to give your story a look. Even the turkeys at “Doctor Funny” might give it a glance if it’s funny AND you’ve got a doctorate! (That’s my pub in case you were wondering.)

I’ve thought about my answer to the question raised. Now I’m going back to see if I can figure out the rest of the song’s lyrics.

Say can I have some of your purple berries? Yes, I’ve been eating them For six or seven weeks now, I haven’t got sick once Probably keep us both alive

That stanza particularly intrigues.