Mam and Zin (Mem û Zîn)
The Kurdish national epic, written down in 1692 by poet Ahmad Khani. Mem, a chivalrous youth of the Alan clan and heir to the City of the West, falls in love with Zin, the beautiful daughter of the governor of Botan (Cizre). They meet during a Newroz celebration. Their union is blocked by the jealous Bakr, who conspires against them. Mem is poisoned, and Zin, upon learning of his death, collapses and dies of grief at his grave. They are buried together, but a thorn bush grows between their graves, separating the lovers even in death — the roots of malice penetrating deep into the earth. Bakr i