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In the Middle Ages, raising falcons was considered a noble and prestigious hobby, regarded as both a science and a show of virtues and overall elegance. It was very costly and required patience and knowledge. In a certain way, raising falcons and hunting with them also was a sport. It obviously was a thing of the noble class, with Emperor Friedrich II. of the House of Staufen (1194-1250) even writing entire books about it! But, as I am sure you've all figured out, this piece of poetry goes beyond the mere raising of a bird: The falcon is a quite popular metaphor for both the loved one and freedom in German Minnesang poetry dealing with the highest and noblest forms of love, and this is no different here. However, the exact meaning remains unclear: The most probable option is that the text is about a woman singing about a lost male lover, but it might also be the other way around. Some say it deals with a father whose daughter leaves her old home. In any case, this piece is a
