Poem and photographs wall (Roman numerals I–IV)
Updated 17 Oct 2026 · Game version: launch version (Oct 16, 2026)
The answer in one line
Take the Photographs from the 2nd-floor office clothes rack, read the first sentence of the poem on the wall, then place the four photographs that sentence calls for on slots I, II, III and IV, using the table below.
Your poem decides the set. The lookup table is below.
Where the puzzle is
The Desiderium is the corrupted version of the building that you enter after meeting Sanguis on the film set. This wall is in its 3rd-floor apartment: a poem, and below it four slots marked with the Roman numerals I to IV.
Only the poem's first sentence matters. It tells you which set of four photographs goes on the wall and in what order. The rest of the poem is decoration.
This wall is one step of the longer Lapis Fictus Knife chain; see that puzzle page for what comes next.
Not sure you’re in the right place? Search for your room in Quick find tool.
What you need
- Photographs: on the clothes rack in the Desiderium 2nd-floor office
Exact spots for each one are on Items and collectibles.
Step by step
Take the Photographs from the 2nd-floor office
In the Desiderium 2nd-floor office, check the clothes rack and take the Photographs.
Read the poem and note its first sentence
Go to the wall in the 3rd-floor apartment and read the poem. Write down or remember just its opening sentence.
Place one photograph on each numeral
Use the Photographs on the wall and pick a picture for slots I, II, III and IV, following the row of the table below that matches your poem's first sentence.
How to read your own clue
Where the clue is. On the wall in the Desiderium 3rd-floor apartment, above the four slots marked I, II, III and IV. The poem you get can differ from one playthrough to the next, so check yours rather than copying someone else’s answer.
What it looks like. A short poem of several lines. Only its first sentence counts. There are four possible openings, and each one maps to a fixed set of four photographs.
How to turn it into the input. Find the row whose first column matches the start of your poem, then put the photo in each column on the numeral with the same number.
| Poem starts with | I | II | III | IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “He nestles in her hand…” | Hand with ring | Ear with earring | Shiny dress | Pearl necklace |
| “You’re dead…” | Cross necklace | Feet | Sunglasses | Black veil |
| “I’m dreaming…” | Mouth with lipstick | Sunglasses | Ear with earring | Black dress |
| “Adorned with the blue of silver…” | Feet | Shiny dress | Closed eyes | Black glove |
These four sets match both iampanax’s puzzle guide and the Gamer Social Club walkthrough.
How you know it worked. We could not confirm exactly what feedback the game gives here; in the guides the run moves straight on to the next step of the Lapis Fictus Knife chain once the fourth photo is placed. If the wall still lets you swap pictures and nothing has changed, recheck your row and the order.
If it doesn’t work
- My poem doesn't look like any row in the table.
- Look only at the very first sentence and match its opening words. The four possible openings are the four rows of the table; ignore everything after the first sentence.
- I placed four photos and nothing happened.
- Check the order. Each numeral needs its own photo, and the same four pictures in a different order are wrong. Several sets share photos such as Sunglasses or Feet, so make sure you are reading the right row.
Sources
- Tenebris Somnia - All Puzzles & Solutions Guide by iampanax Timestamps used: 43:20–44:00
- Tenebris Somnia Full Puzzles Walkthrough (Gamer Social Club, used to confirm the four photo sets) by Mark Pell
- Tenebris Somnia - Full Walkthrough (Good Ending) - No Commentary by X-Rey Timestamps used: 3:05:29
Spotted a step that’s wrong? Tell us and we’ll fix it and update the date.
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