Tale about the East is long (5)

I believe the answer is:

yearn

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'is long' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for yearn that I've seen before include "Curdle" , "Have an intense feeling of longing" , "Desire, want" , "Feel desire" , "Have strong desire" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.

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