![](http://specialcollections.exeter.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/EUL-MS-397_1231-RD-on-50th-birthday-1024x1017.jpg)
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
![](http://specialcollections.exeter.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/EUL-MS-397_1231-Ronnies-Bday-August-1969-1024x1012.jpg)
Ronald and Briony Duncan celebrating Ronald’s birthday in August 1969