accepting history

is there an essence that defies all changes
if so i cannot see it and that seems to make
me into a pariah the thought almost deranges
yet still belongs in the broad class of mistake
the sign that marks us is not the only sign
a truth that's enforced cannot be as true
as one that we find following our line
out into the pale and ever distant blue
we see ourselves as having lacked the force
to claim a place or else to have been made
to stay far back while others stayed the course
only to cheer as the great pass in parade
nothing we know endures nothing can last
we cannot even know what's gone and past