By George, I think I've got it! (It came to me in the shower this morning):
Wednesday's child is full of laughter,
Thursday's child must clean up after
Howdy, "duty"! I don't know if this is what the sonneteer had in mind, but it certainly works for me! If the author is, indeed, alluding to "Wednesday's child" and "Thursday's child," that would subtly echo the title, and also put Millay herself, rather than the baby ("him/ Or her (the it)", in the realm of childhood (childishness?).
I also reread your comments, Rhina, and found another bit of ambiguity to support your reading: the bit about pregnancy disturbing Millay's "lovely lines," which could refer to either her poetry or her figure.
This sonnet is just full of good stuff, isn't it?
Julie Stoner
[This message has been edited by Julie Stoner (edited March 19, 2003).]
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