from itertools import groupby
import typing
lines = '''
This is the
first paragraph.

This is the second.
'''.splitlines()
# Use itertools.groupby and bool to return groups of
# consecutive lines that either have content or don't.
for has_chars, frags in groupby(lines, bool):
    if has_chars:
        print(' '.join(frags))
# PRINTS:
# This is the first paragraph.
# This is the second.