Don't let them build houses on high, high hills
Don't let them give their daughters to distant lands
Let them not look down upon the only one, the mother
Let it be known to the flying birds as well
I miss my mother
Both my mother and my father
I miss my village
If my mother had a sail, she would open it and come
If my father had a horse, he would ride it and come
If my siblings knew the roads, they would come
Let it be known to the flying birds as well
I miss my mother
Both my mother and my father
I miss my village
Story
This story is taken from the villages of Malkara, and it is not written from the perspective of a specific individual. It is a well-known story in the area. According to the rumor, long ago, in one of the villages, there was a very beautiful girl named Zeynep. When she had just turned sixteen, Zeynep was seen by a young man named Ali, who came from foreign (neighboring) villages, at a wedding in their village. Ali was very taken with Zeynep, and when he returned to his village, he immediately sent a proposal to her father. Zeynep was given to Ali. Shortly after, they got married. Ali took Zeynep and moved her to his village.The distance between the village Zeynep went to as a bride and her own village took three days and nights to travel. Because of this great distance, Zeynep could not see her mother, father, and siblings for seven whole years. This longing grew stronger in Zeynep's heart each day, becoming unbearable. She would go to the garden of her house, located on the village's highest hill, turn toward her own village, and quietly hum the song she had created, trying to soothe her longing with her distant gaze.
However, her husband paid little attention to Zeynep's yearning. Since his old affection had faded, he began to treat her poorly and cruelly. Eventually, the combination of this longing and her husband's mistreatment caused Zeynep to fall seriously ill.
As Zeynep's illness worsened day by day, the people who visited suggested that her parents be called. Realizing that there was no other choice, Zeynep's husband went to inform her parents. After a journey of six days and nights, one evening, Zeynep's parents arrived in the village and found her in bed. In a miserable state, Zeynep was still humming her song. She began to sing the same song to her parents. All the women from the village, who were nearby, became emotional and shed tears. Her mother fainted from the shock.
Zeynep eased her longing, but it was too late. She never recovered, and her story ended in death. Everyone cried for Zeynep. From that day on, this song has been sung as a song of separation.
Notes
