simple question. Not using 2.xxx10. query params

I am using the 2xxx09 version on OpenBSD.
The manual pages are still unfinished on this version,
so I can't find a way to probe for any particular parameter
such as URL?lang=es&happy=yes&sad=no

$r->args(); just produces a string.

Do I really have to parse strings myself or is there a method
that was undocumented in version 2.xxxx09?
The manual page right where this would be explained says it needs
to be finished, which leaves me clueless on how to proceed.

Thanks,
Chris Bennett