@v = split ' ', '    watch the magic    ';
print "$_: $v[$_]\n" for 0..$#v;

print $/;

@v = split /\s+/, '    lost the magic    ';
print "$_: $v[$_]\n" for 0..$#v;
__DATA__
0: watch
1: the
2: magic

0: 
1: lost
2: the
3: magic