IOW, it is what it is, and it's not what it's not, and it may be what it was - it even may have been what it will be - but it won't be what it can't be, though

IOW, it is what it is, and it's not what it's not, and it may be what it was - it even may have been what it will be - but it won't be what it can't be, though even then it may have been what it isn't. So it goes.