import yaml # ... import argparse parser = argparse.ArgumentParser() parser.add_argument('rargs', nargs='*', default=[]) a = parser.parse_args() with open(a.rargs[0], 'r') as file: # The FullLoader parameter handles the conversion from YAML # scalar values to Python the dictionary format xx = yaml.load(file) print(yaml.dump(xx)) for x in xx: print(x) print(xx[x]) c = xx[x] print(c) if isinstance(c, str): pass else: try: print(c['delay']) except KeyError: pass