Black and grey realism style compass rose tattoo with shaded points, a fleur-de-lis at north and N, E, S and W lettering, on the lower leg near the ankle.

Enlarged with AI from a smaller original

Compass rose on the lower leg

Realism · Ankle · Black and grey · Photo

A shaded compass rose sits at the centre of the image, with an eight-pointed star, a dark central hub and faint concentric rings. A fleur-de-lis marks north and the letters N, E, S and W label the cardinal points. The linework is fine and the grey shading gives the star a soft three-dimensional look on a lightly lit leg against a dark background.

Realism Ankle Compass Compass rose Fleur-de-lis Letter Star

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

Dear Tom, The chart for the Halsey consignment is finished at last, and Mr Ashby has signed it in the corner where your initials used to go. I inked the rose myself last night by the lamp, eight points with the fleur-de-lis set over north because he says the French style is the fashion now. I held my own compass to the window to check the bearing against the church steeple and found it a whole point out, so I have said nothing and corrected it in pencil underneath.

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You will laugh, but I have slept badly since you sailed. Each night I lie listening for the bell buoy at the harbour mouth and count the points of the rose the way Father taught us, north, north by east, down to the hard edges of the paper. The grey I wash round the hub is meant to look like shadow on a brass face. Mr Ashby says it makes the sheet seem lifted, as though the thing could be picked up and carried off.

Yesterday a boy came to the shop with a letter folded small inside his cap. A man in Falmouth had given it him for the chart room. It was in your hand and said only that the needle lies when the iron is near, so trust the stars and not the brass. I have pinned it beneath the rose, where the north point sits, and I look at it more than I look at the work.

Come home on the spring tide. The south letter is still blank on the sheet, and I have left it for you to fill. Your sister, Ann.