Poonam Dhir has made the 2023 CBC Short Story Prize longlist for The Splitting of a Wound.

The winner of the 2023 CBC Short Story Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their work published on CBC Books and win a two-week writing residency at Artscape Gibraltar Point. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.

The shortlist will be announced on April 12 and the winner will be announced on April 18.

If you're interested in the CBC Literary Prizes, the 2023 CBC Poetry Prize is open for submissions until May 31.

Poonam Dhir is a queer playwright, poet, Punjabi descendent and settler currently based in Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) on the traditional, unceded territory of the Kanien'kehá:ka people. They are the recipient of a 2022 Lambda Literary Fellowship and were a finalist for the 2021 RBC/PEN Canada New Voices Award, Poetry. Poonam is part of Nightwood Theatre's Write-from-the-Hip Development Program. You can read her latest pieces in Vallum, CV2, PRISM and The Capilano Review.

"Imagine roots pulling at ankles."

"I wanted to write from a place of possibility. The possibility of a father being able to have a conversation with their child. The possibility of a child standing up for themself. The possibility of tenderness amid tension. I wanted to explore the idea of coming into being while transcending the body, reality and particular experiences."

While oiling my hair one night, Mom mentioned she had signed me up for swimming lessons.

"Sorry beta, overtime this summer, won't be home 'til late. Your sisters are busy. You should do something."

I watched my reflection, as she parted my hair, sleeked with mustard oil, and combed it through. She tied my tresses into braids and left them drying on my shoulders. I felt the weight of her hands upon me. The gold bangles lightly tapped my head and neck as she gathered and smoothed my loose ends.

The winner of the 2023 CBC Short Story Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their work published on CBC Books and attend a two-week writing residency at Artscape Gibraltar Point. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.

The 2023 CBC Poetry Prize is currently open until May 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The 2024 CBC Short Story Prize will open in September and the 2024 CBC Nonfiction Prize will open in January 2024.