I agree with UYS. The articles (as the) make it read in a gray zone for me. If you eliminate them as she said, it makes the line breaks more powerful and mor logical, if that makes sense. With the articles, I feel the line breaks are jarring. But if the lines are less prose-y, (sans as, the) then the line breaks ADD to the piece.
Other than that, I think it is perfect. Very nice pastiche.