GD::Text::Wrap is frequently used with CGI. Maybe you should try it. For example:

#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;
use warnings;
use GD;
use GD::Text::Wrap;

my $gd = GD::Image->new(800,600);

my $text = <<EOSTR;
This is the way it is. This is the way it was.
EOSTR

my $wrapbox = GD::Text::Wrap->new( $gd, text => $text);
$wrapbox->set_font(gdMediumBoldFont);
$wrapbox->set_font('arial', 12);
$wrapbox->set(align => 'left', width => 40);
$wrapbox->draw(10, 140);

print "\n$text\n";
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