Answer:
an allusion to conflict
Explanation:
Selma, from this poem, refers to the town Selma, Alabama, where the African-American civil rights movement started in 1960s.
Saigon, frim the same line in the poem, refers to the Vietnam War.
We could say that the author of the poem, touched, saddened or even shocked by these events seeks peace, calm and tranquillity that Monet's painting gives him.
So, the news from Selma and Saigon suggest ongoing conflicts that pollute the air of peaceful everyday life.
On the other hand, Monet's painting shows no conflict; it radiates peaceful and relaxing energy, while the painter, with his fast and chaotic brush movements, conveys the feeling of constant moving of the water.
