A Prayer -three versions

[milo]

Well, I'm certainly not scanning correctly yet am I? I think I'm optimistically saying the words wrong to fit the meter when I scan. And I'm naughty, I don't always read it aloud. Obviously, I need more practice. Thanks for that Milo!

no problem. Remember though, readers and writers use their ear - you can read and write perfect metrical poetry without ever learning what a trochee or iamb is. Scansion is for analysts to decipher what is/isn't working and why, it isn't really used to write poetry though I understand you are practicing.

Your version starting with trochees is almost perfectly iambic with the exception of the 3 beat feet.

One trick if you want to really write in trochaic is to use all feminine endings as then your ear will correct the beginnings without having to rely on so many choriambs.

all the little babies
love to laugh at silly
Johnny as he drops his
pants and shows his willy

DUMda DUMda DUMda

if you end on a "DUM" (masculine) as you tend to do, your ear will naturally want to fill in the start of the next line with a "da" which sets you up for iambic.