
Ronald Duncan on his 50th birthday 6th August 1964
I can’t think of a better way to mark Ronald Duncan’s birthday than with one of his own poems.
They tell me it’s my birthday. How old am I?
Too innocent to be 10;
Too arrogant to be 20,
Too rich to be 30
Too poor to be 40.
Not ambitious enough to be 50;
Not wise enough to be 60
If 70, women would need me
and love me more; if 80, my family
would look more hopeful;
If 90, they would appear more frustrated
Nor can I be 100 for then I,
as all the world will know.
So, 15 must be the age of me
If age is measured by maturity.
Ronald Duncan, 1970

Ronald and Briony Duncan celebrating Ronald’s birthday in August 1969