You can use backtics ( `ls` ) to return the output of a command, or you could use the Shell module.

use Shell;
print ls();
[download]

And if you have a development version of Perl laying around ( 5.7.0 :) you can check out the OO interface to Shell ( you're welcome :)

use Shell;
my $sh = shell->new;
print $sh->ls;
[download]

Bad namespace polution, bad!

--
Casey
   I am a superhero.