Fabio Pusterla on poetry, wonder, and resisting neocapitalism

Swiss poet Fabio Pusterla (born Mendrisio, 1957) discusses his creative process, the role of wonder, and his critique of neocapitalism in an interview. He rejects the idea of poetry as a planned project, describing it as an unexpected visitor. Pusterla emphasizes the importance of concrete experience and reading, citing surprise and wonder as starting points. He downplays the concept of Genius Loci, instead identifying his place as the "megalopoli padana" between Italy and Switzerland. On the future, he quotes Cormac McCarthy on the past as the only material available, and advocates for environmental action, wealth redistribution, and political renewal as ways to move beyond advanced neocapitalism. Pusterla has received the Premio Schiller Svizzero (2007), Premio Gottfried Keller, and Premio Napoli. He studied at the University of Pavia, taught in Lugano and at the University of Geneva, translated French poets like Philippe Jaccottet, and edited the magazine Idra from 1988 to 1998.