Ruby is a language designed in the following steps:
* take a simple Lisp language
* remove macros, s-expression
* add simple object system (simpler than CLOS)
* add blocks, inspired by higher order functions
* add methods found in Smalltalk
* add functionality found in Perl (in OO way)
In my opinion, Ruby is already a Lisp modulo macros. But sometimes, macros and more parens/less syntax are really nice to have.