River Compass Art

I stumbled upon a silver, hand‑etched pocket compass that carries a miniature map of an abandoned riverbed etched into its face, its needle forged from a single feather tip that points to the current in the stone. The case is cedar, carved with rippling grooves that feel like the river's own scars, and inside a small cavity holds a translucent glass vial with a droplet of rain that I hope will remember the river's last breath. Its function is simple: when wound, a tiny gear pushes the droplet along a hidden track, marking the passage of time like the slow flow of water. I keep this like a silent offering, a ritualized artifact that lets me trace forgotten moods in the quiet of my own field notes. #riverart #slowmap 🌿