awesome-wm-widgets/email-widget/count_unread_emails.py

#!/usr/bin/python

import imaplib
import re

M=imaplib.IMAP4_SSL("mail.teenagemutantninjaturtles.com", 993)
M.login("mickey@tmnt.com","cowabunga")

status, counts = M.status("INBOX","(MESSAGES UNSEEN)")

if status == "OK":
	unread = re.search(r'UNSEEN\s(\d+)', counts[0].decode('utf-8')).group(1)
else:
	unread = "N/A"

print(unread)