August rolls along, the summer heat intensifies, and the debates surrounding the upcoming election heat up. SMITH writers use heat to describe body heat, the outdoor climate, and ways to cook without too much effort. Heat is a powerful force, evoking memories and setting things “on fire.” Yet the Heat (both the weather and the sports team) is beatable. Those who like the warmth revel in the summer weather or pray for heat to melt fat. Heat is a force that trades hands and is constantly moving, often followed by heartbreak. First comes heat, then hurt, or something worthy of complaining about once the heat disappears.

Here are a few ways at looking at Heat in six words. Click on each author’s name for more of his or her memoirs. And you can search the Six-Word Memoir site for any word and see what pops up.

Goodbye July, hello August, heat, heartbreak. —roaringsilence

Save energy: Create your own heat. —notyouraveragegrandma

Her hug; close, heat, shampoo aroma. —Rivernest

Secret chili recipe: open, heat, eat. —DELTA

Summer Heat, hope it melts fat. —Knoxena

Satan called. Wants his heat back. —Believe

Too much heat burns up hearts. —HoraceNelson

No longer cook. Still heat up. —L2L3

Heat flamed out, saw LeBron pout. —RedStickWriter

Heat. Enervation. No explication. No motivation. —mlove

Heat, pressure, time, makes diamonds, waffles. —novice

Microwaves can’t heat up cold hearts. —Pocket

Suffocating in both heat and heartache. —tearstainedcheeks

Trapped in heated six-word Twitter battle. —theliterarybulimic

Remembering Snowmageddon. I hate the heat. —staringlongingly

The heat has affected my memoir-skills. —JAD

Eskimo wish: schools closed for heat. —BanjomanDan