You could also use SQL::Abstract

#!/usr/bin/env perl
use strict;
use warnings;
use SQL::Abstract;
use Data::Dump;


my $first = 'john';
my $last = 'smith';

my $sql = SQL::Abstract->new();

my ($stmt,@bind) = $sql->insert(
   'person',
   {  
      id => undef,
      first_name => $first,
      last_name => $last
   }
);

dd $stmt;
dd @bind;
[download]

Output: "INSERT INTO person ( first_name, id, last_name) VALUES ( ?, ?, ? )" ("john", undef, "smith")