Riddle Poem by William B. Watterson

I am
of the earth itself,
first given life
by a god,
fashioned from
a tortoise shell
by winged Hermes,
messenger of Olympus,
fleet of foot.

I was
a gift of Hermes
to Apollo,
god of light,
who made
my golden strings
to vibrate so
that all
of great Olympus'
gods sat rapt.

In hope
of saving Jason's band
Orpheus plucked me
as the Sirens seductively sang,
and later carried me
across the Styx
to Hades' land
to charm the fair Eurydice
bereft of life
by a viper's fang.