The following is Karen Jo Shapiro's poem, "Me."

.........
........
.......
So many kinds of folks I see,
but only I can be a ME.
==================================
(Question)

Would you explain 'So many kinds of folks I see'?

1. So many kinds of folks (that)I see.
---the relative pronoun 'that' is omitted.

2. So many kinds of folks I see.
----- I see so many kinds of folks.
'So many kinds of folks' is the object of 'see.' The object is placed in front. So 'that' is not omitted between 'folks' and "I."

(Which explanation is right?)

I can't tell from this. I need to see the entire poem. Please post all of it, not just two lines.

Both explanations are possible interpretations of the phrase "So many kinds of folks I see."

Interpretation 1:
In this interpretation, the phrase is understood as "So many kinds of folks (that) I see." The word "that" is omitted, but implied, as a relative pronoun connecting the noun phrase "so many kinds of folks" to the verb "see." Here, "so many kinds of folks" functions as the object of the verb "see."

Interpretation 2:
In this interpretation, the phrase is understood as "I see so many kinds of folks." Here, "so many kinds of folks" also functions as the object of the verb "see," but rather than being placed in front of the verb, it is located after the subject "I." In this case, there is no relative pronoun "that" being omitted.

In both interpretations, the meaning remains the same: the speaker is observing or noticing a wide variety of people. The choice between the two interpretations would depend on the context, the overall structure of the poem, and the desired rhythm or flow of the sentence. Both interpretations are valid and grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different nuances.