my $dbh = DBI->connect(blah blah)
      or die "Can't connect: $DBI::errstr";
   my $sth = $dbh->prepare("SELECT SYSDATE FROM DUAL")
      or die "Can't prepare: $DBI::errstr";

##</code><code>##

   my $sth = $dbh->prepare(qq{
      SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'DAY') AS DAY
      FROM DUAL
   }) or die "Can't prepare: $DBI::errstr";

##</code><code>##

   SQL> SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'DAY') AS DAY
     2        FROM DUAL;

   DAY
   --------
   THURSDAY