That's because each element is a string now but if you also want to index individual words then make the data structure a reference to an array of arrays by using square brackets around each qw{ ... }.

knoppix@Microknoppix:~$ perl -Mstrict -wE '
> my $refArr2 = [
>    [ qw{ this is the first line } ],
>    [ qw{ Second one is here } ],
>    [ qw{ squint your eyes to see the third } ],
>    [ qw{ fourth is surely near } ],
>    ];
> 
> say $refArr2->[ 1 ]->[ 0 ];
> say qq{@{ $refArr2->[ 1 ] }};'
Second
Second one is here
knoppix@Microknoppix:~$
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I hope this is helpful.