The last years of Ezra, fragile and in failing mental and physical health, were difficult ones for Olga, but ones in which she showered him with her love by care-giving as well as being concerned for his legacy as a poet and writer, and so much else.
And then there was 'the other lady." (Seri was witness to Olga's 1955 visit.) She was sitting at the right hand of Pound one afternoon when Dorothy failed to appear. The Olga came, "a royal presence, with marble-like, sculptured features, her back stiff and erect, professional looking, a trained person. Her hair carefully 'marcelled; in waves, and she was wearing a lovely lavender and white summer dress, with matching lavender parasol to protect fragile skin against the summer sun.....
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Ezra and Olga had an argument that suspended their relationship again But when he recovered from the long illness that plagued him, they reunited and went back to Italy. And there, she became Ezra's caregiver. They had been a couple for over thirty years at this point and this time it was Olga who prevailed over Dorothy, who was invited to visit, and was living without Ezra.
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Excerpt page 239:
After years of waiting, Olga at last had her prize. One observer noted that "Miss Rudge was clearly the sea in which he (Pound) floated. She cleaned, she shopped, she stoked the old stove.. And she appeared to enjoy every day with Ezra. "Why is it, in old age, dancing seems better? We had a gramophone, dancing with Him to Vivaldi was His idea! After many lonely Christmases past, she now could enjoy the holidays with her lover They saw the New Year in with "His new couch, Vivialdi, again on the roof, dinner on a tray, later chocolates and grog -hot" (Olga said.)
Their daily lives followed a familiar pattern: Ezra did yoga exercises before breakfast, "spontaneously." Lunch at the Pensioni Montin or Cici, visits with friends, walks ... a light supper at home.... In the evening, Ezra often read selections from The Cantos."
Excerpt page 240:
During this era, Olga began to record Ezra's dreams in her notebook....
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Their days were also full of visits and letters from many noteworthy persons in Literature, Poetry, Music, and the Arts.
In 1971 Olga and Ezra's daughter, Mary, published Discretions. In so many words, Olga was not described as a loving mother, but a disciplinarian who was strict and had high standards. Olga was wounded.
Finally, Ezra's was dieing. At first visitors came and then he was moved to a hosptial. Olga was there. The morning of the day he died, she had thrown the I Ching and had gotten the prophetic message when the hexagram meaning Deliverance came up. More than 120 friends came to the funeral.
Excerpt page 260:
"Ezra Pound wished to be buried in Idaho," Olga noted, In view of the Sawtooth Range. He had made known in his writing to his Committee in 1967 but legally He was not free to manage his affairs.
And so Olga arranged it. And so his body was carried through Venice on a gondola and then she (Olga) sent a telegram to England that Ezra had died in his sleep to break the news to Dorothy She had not delayed the funeral in time for Dorothy to attend.
When she herself could no longer live alone, her daughter Mary came and took her back to Germany and her home. At near a hundred she was beginning to loose her memory. She lived to be 101.
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