If you want a syntax where things line up, just write a function: 
# Takes a hash reference and a list of key/value pairs.
# Assigns those keys to those values in the hash
sub add_to_hash {
  my $h_ref = shift;
  while (@_) {
    my $key = shift;
    my $value = shift;
    $h_ref{$key} = $value;
  }
}

[download]
Now it is easy to get the syntax you want: 
add_to_hash(\%my_hash,
  key1 => "value1",
  key2 => "value2",
  # ...
);

[download]

UPDATE
Fixed typo pointed out by grinder.

In reply to Re (tilly) 1: Considering hash slices, past, present and future by tilly
in thread Considering hash slices, past, present and future by grinder

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