All photographs by Morten Berthelsen.

From the streets of downtown Ramallah, rapper Karam Tarawa rhymes about love and heartbreak. (“Adam”= me or Eve’s beau; “Morten”= fellow traveler, photojournalist.)

Lyrics (transcription) and translation after the jump. English / Arabic

I loved you and you didnt care about me
I forgot your laughter in my eyes
I presented my love to you as a gift
And I made you a doll in my hands

I loved you from the first glance
And in your eyes I saw the shine of the burning coal
Because of your love, you dark beauty
I had to face the stone and the rock

You went with someone else and forgot about me
I told you “I love you” and you took me out
You didn’t care about me and you forgot about me
From your mind, you removed me

The best life we life we lived together
And the best days we spent together
And the best words we said to each other
And with a glance you told me forget me

You are the one that I loved
And you are the one with no other
When I look at your eyes
From the taste of pain, I protected you

I told everyone and the world
That you are the most beautiful child of Adam
And never in my life have I been pessimistic
But my love and your love are not compatible

Who do you think you are, you nobody?
Who do you think you are?
You’ve got no looks, no body, no personality.

Who do you think you are, you nobody?
Who do you think you are?
You’re coming to be entertained by me,
But after all that, you’re still a young girl.

Who do you think you are, you nobody?
Who do you think you are?
You’ve got no looks, no body, no personality.

Who do you think you are, you nobody?
Who do you think you are?
You’re coming to be entertained by me,
But after all that, you’re still a young girl.

I stayed in love with you from my heart.
I didn’t give up.
I lived my life in delusion
And I hoped

We wouldn’t go back to being kids
Like we were in the beginning
We build again and we build together
The future

I don’t know how I was in love with you
With you, I’m in love like I’m melting — it’s written.
Hatred of you has its pain — it’s written.
Whoever made me love you — it’s written.

When you heard the words I love you
You used it and you used me.
The best of feelings you stole
The sweetest ideas you destroyed

I give you a wish of love on sears blarz [?]
And I tell you happy birthday, my love.
My love!

Speaking:
[English]: Adam… Adam and Morten. I love you so much Morton! I love you so much Adam!
[Arabic]: This is a memory between us. A beautiful time.