my $line = "a whole lotta shakin >pattern here< goin on";

##</code><code>##

my @bits_and_pieces = split /></, $line;

##</code><code>##

'a whole lotta shakin >pattern here< goin on'

##</code><code>##

my $line = "a whole lotta shakin ><pattern here>< goin on"; 
my @bits_and_pieces = split /></, $line;

##</code><code>##

('a whole lotta shakin ','pattern here',' goin on')

##</code><code>##

print @bits_and_pieces;

##</code><code>##

'a whole lotta shakin pattern here goin on'