Sorting Hat song in SS/PS--does it mean anything?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 84583

Good evening, all.  I'm currently in a re-read of SS, and as I read 
the sorting hat's song, something bugged me.  

There's a very nice little rhythm going as the hat begins to tell 
about each house.  

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart. [p. 118, US ed.]

We have line 1 w/ 8 syllables,
line 2 w/ 6 syllables,
line 3 w/ 8 syllables
line 4 w/ 6 syllables.

Hufflepuff is next, with essentially the same rhythm, though only if 
you "slur" the two syllables of "loyal".

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil.

Even with that "problem", it still flows nicely, n'est-ce pas?

Next up is Ravenclaw, which again flows pretty smoothly, with 
8,6,7,6 syllables:
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind.

But then we hit Slytherin, where suddenly the pattern is "way off"--
I mean "listen" to how this sounds--
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.

7 syllables, 5 syllables, 8 syllables, 5 syllables.  It just doesn't 
fit at all, and it is awkward to say.  Has this been discussed 
before?  Is this something intentional on JKR's part--something 
designed to show us that Slytherin is slightly "off"?  Or did she 
really have a hard time finding words to fit the general pattern and 
that fit in smoothly with the rest?

I invite you to read all four stanzas together and see if you don't 
notice what I'm saying.  Smooth X 3...then the awkward Slytherin 
stanza.

Okay.  Call me weird! ;-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan