Ekphrastic Duel - Caillebotte's "On the Pont de l'Europe"

My first poetry professor was David Wright, and he introduced me to the wonderful genre of ekphrastic poetry, poetry about art. Our creative writing  class took a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, where we were told to pick out one painting and sit in front of it and study it. I sat in front of a Monet for about an hour, and it was remarkable how much my interpretation deepened and developed in that time.

Recently, I've made another attempt at ekphrasis, using prints I have at my house. I wrote to David asking his opinion of a particularly nice Caillebotte, and he in return challenged me to a duel of ekphrasis. We had until noon today (differing time zones meant I had a little more time), and David said neither of us could use the word "blue." Here's the painting, and the poems follow.

*David would like me to say that his poem is a rough draft, and I suppose mine is too*

On the Bridge to the Chorus with Gustave

Behind you, monsieur, and you, Caillebotte, at 28, we
lined up straight as spines and, colored like this steel
upholding Paris in the cold, we millions blew our breath 
entirely into horns and curses. We made jazz. And wars
spaced far enough apart to believe in art like yours.

- David Wright

On the Pont de l’Europe

Stopping on the Pont de l'Europe,
looking south to see the dynamo
that will deliver her to St. Malo.
Steely reserve and dignity
lend pallid support
in this cold, grey world
of rivets and iron arches,
a world where you may find yourself
hurrying along the margins,
resting on an indifferent bridge.

-Will Hierholzer

David claims I won, because his is an acrostic spelling out "blues," but I think most people will agree his is far better.