There are several modules on CPAN (e.g. POE::Component::DBIAgent which was based on some stuff I wrote and forwarded the POE list which was subsequently cleaned up, improved on, and packaged by someone else; there's others as well if that doesn't do it, just search for "POE DBI") which give a more POE-y interface by setting up a separate session to manage a db connection. That might be of use here.