Meter for dummies?

“I met a toad on his way home from church”

I met a toad4

hopping home3

from church today4

“Tonight lies heavily without a star”

The heavens 3

Lie tonight 3

Without a star 4

I think you just need to move your words around a bit and find better adjectives.  I think that is all you really have to do.  I will always be a syllable counter.  I like it, it makes me happpy  I hope this helps.