%monitored_files = (
    "messages" => { FILE => "/var/log/messages",
                    HANDLE => undef,
                  }
);

##</code><code>##

foreach $key (keys (%monitored_files)) {
    open ($monitored_files{$key}{HANDLE}, $monitored_files{$key}{FILE}) or die "Could not open $key: $!";
    print(" * $key opened\n");
}