I Have a Yong Suster Translation

I Have a Yong Suster (anonymous Medieval English riddle-poem, circa 1430) translation by Michael R. Burch I have a young sister Far beyond the sea; Many are the keepsakes That she sent me. She sent me the cherry Without any stone; And also the dove Without any bone. She sent me the briar Without any skin; She bade me love my lover Without longing. How should any cherry Be without a stone? And how could any dove Be without a bone? How should any briar Be without a skin? And how could I love my lover Without longing? When the cherry was a flower, Then it had no stone; When the dove was an egg, Then it had no bone. When the briar was unborn, Then it had no skin; And when a maiden has her mate, She is without longing!