Python Regular Expression Examples: the Colon

>>> import re
>>> x = '\nBeneath the wide and starry sky, \nDig the grave and let me lie, \nGlad did I live and gladly die, \nAnd I lay me down with a will:\n\nThis be the verse you grave for me: \nHere he lies where he longed to be, \nHome is the sailor, home from sea, \nAnd the hunter home from the hill.\n\n-- "Requiem" by Robert Louis Stevenson\n\n'
>>> y = re.compile('l(?:ie)')
>>> z = re.search(y,x)
>>> print z.group()
lie

>>> u = 'Four score and seven years ago, our forefathers...'
>>> y = re.compile('a(?:[rg])')
>>> z = re.search(y,u)
>>> print z.group()
ar

>>> y = re.compile('a(?:[rg]).*(?P<another>for(?:e))')
>>> z = re.search(y,u)
>>> print z.group()
ars ago, our fore
>>> print z.group(0)
ars ago, our fore
>>> print z.group(1)
fore
>>> print z.groups()
('fore',)
>>> print z.group('another')
fore