WANTED: MELLOW, LAID-BACK POEMS READINGS AIM TO RECLAIM POETRY'S BEATNIK FEEL.

Byline: RICK COCA Valley News Writer

Looking to return the local poetry scene to its beatnik past, Melba Gilkey, created ``Mental Mondays'' at the House of Brews coffee house and deli in San Fernando.

Gilkey, affectionately known as ``Mama Hazze,'' approached House of Brews owners Blanca and Frank Diaz with the idea for a night of mellow, laid- back poetry, which she hoped would be a departure from the often aggressive fare that is popular now.

``We decided to bring it this way, (more) of a beatnik, mellow vibe,'' said Gilkey, a Van Nuys resident. ``(It) would be an escape for me, more relaxing.''

The idea took off last month when Gilkey and Maurice Settle, her co- worker at the North Los Angeles County Regional Center, which provides service for the developmentally disabled, decided they wanted to pursue the idea together.

Blanca Diaz said House of Brews regularly displays the work of various artists (currently Frank Martinez's work can be seen there), and occasionally hosts readings and open mic nights.

``Right now we have Mama Hazze, who is very community-oriented,'' Diaz said. ``She loves doing things for the kids.''

During her off hours, Gilkey works in the Northeast Valley with the ``Hazze Hip-Hop Culture Dream Center,'' a nonprofit youth arts organization she co-founded with her son Carl ``DJ Hazze'' Gilkey.

In her younger days, Gilkey lived in Stockton, Calif., for a short time and would often go to Berkeley and San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury District. It was there that she was first exposed to the beatnik poets made famous during 1950s and '60s.

``In those dingy, dark clubs,'' Gilkey said.

Years later, in her work with the Dream Center, she brought in two-time Poetry Slam champion Bridget Gray.

``Some of our rappers were cussing (in their rhymes) and I was trying to get them out of that,'' Gilkey said.

``(They said), `You don't understand, we're keeping it real. This is our lives!'''

``I'll bring in somebody that'll blow your heads off with words,'' Gilkey responded.

Gilkey said when the young people listened to Gray recite her poetry, they were struck by her ability as well as the musicality of her poems.

``Bridget was telling them that (curse words) were just filler because they didn't have the words,'' Gilkey said.

Gilkey hopes the new Mental Mondays poetry night will inspire old and young to appreciate language and its creative use.

At last month's inaugural reading, about 10 poets showed up to present their work, including poet and author Luis Rodriguez, co-owner of Tia Chucha's Cafe Cultural in Sylmar.

Gilkey was thrilled that Luis and so many others showed up. She was also thrilled that some teenagers who happened to be at the House of Brews decided to listen in on the poetry and were inspired by what they heard.

``At the end of it, they said they didn't like poetry until today,'' Gilkey said. ``They said, `At school we turn off, we can't even understand it, but this is cool.'''

Mental Mondays poetry night is the fourth Monday of the month. House of Brews is located at 231 N. Maclay Ave. in San Fernando. Call for details: [phone].

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There was a nice turnout for a recent ``Mental Mondays'' poetry reading at The House of Brews in San Fernando.

Ernesto Hernandez/Special to the Valley News