Like how the dark

is so much more

than just the light’s absence

It creeps and slides and slinks and drips

It has its own substance

Forgive me if this is an unwanted suggestion but

consider how the verse scans if you remove the definite article; Like how the dark is so much more than just lights's absence.

or the effect of replacing And with a repetitive IT-- It creeps, it slides, it slinks and drips.

For me this brings more music. I remain agog at your creativity!